Board of Education · Work Session · January 9, 2025

Tonight with a moment of silence.

Thank you very much that brings us to our next item our agenda review and approval are there any changes or edits from staff or board members this evening and if not I would welcome a. Motion move that we approve the agenda for this evening second and moved by Miss Harrell Goff and seconded by Emily Chávez any further discuss not all in favor I I I I I any opposed the agenda is approved unanimously that brings us to the next item the Board of Education meeting minutes from November 7th 2024 any revisions that anyone notes or a motion on those.

Minutes one thing I think this is needs to be changed this it says it was held via Zoom video conference oh I'm sorry I didn't refresh thank you yes Mo approval of the minutes meeting minutes for the work session for November 7. 2024 second it's been moved by chair Rogers and seconded by Miss Harrell Goff any further. Discussion if not all in favor I any opposed the minutes are approved unanimously this brings us to item e general public. Comment we welcome you all here this evening we are so glad that you're able to join us we will offer 3 minutes of public comment for our speakers who have signed up today we have 13 speakers starting with Chad heel and followed by Rachel.

Owens thank you for providing public comment time here tonight my name is Chad Hayley and I'm here as a parent of a sixth grader Rogers her who relies on neighborhood bus service school bus service in Durham is in crisis and you've established that we need a short-term Band-Aid until more drivers are ready but whether implemented this year or next I think express service and walk zones are permanent solutions to a temporary problem I only have limited time so instead of listing all the reasons these models are bad ideas I'll take a broader view ending neighborhood bus service and establishing walk zones for magnet schools to me are admissions that the growing together program has failed you've reversed any Improvement in equity and access to those schools disproportionately impacting families without flexible schedules even among those with flexibility I can't overstate how much anger and resentment you're creating you're unnecessarily making enemies and burning faith in the public school system the next time you need Community Support to solve a problem I.

Worry it might not be there please take the time to truly understand how disruptive these changes are and come up with other Solutions thank you for your time thank you Rachel Owens followed by Miriam masamba hi good evening board and cabinet members my name is Rachel Owens and I teach science at Northern High School and I'm a member of DPSS energy advisory Council first I would like to thank you you each of you for your efforts in securing the resolution in 2021 in support of a transition to a renewable energy in DPS we have made some moves towards enacting the items in the resolution but we have quite a ways to go if we're going to hit the 2035 Target of reducing our non-renewable energy usage by 80% the resolution calls for the esta lishment of a climate action plan that will carry us towards the goals in the resolution I am here to remind you of the commitment we have made and to ask of you to direct our energy conservation.

Program staff who have experience in this very task to get to work on a climate action plan I would also recommend you get an update from them directly on their efforts they're they've accomplished a lot and a very little time and what other program in DPS can pay for itself DPS students from across several of our schools are partnering with a number of community organizations to assist you in this endeavor among them Duke University's student Climate Coalition citizens climate education and the climate reality project we have and I will leave you with a copy of a draft recommendation we collaborated on it's in it's time we demonstrate to the Durham community and the state at large that we're not fools for fossil fuels anymore we appreciate good intentions what we need is action a climate action plan thank you than you thank.

You thank you Miriam Mamba followed by Katie mcgonnell thank you hello everyone my name is Miran Mamba and I'm a junior at city of medicine Academy I'm also on the superintendent student advisory Council hello Dr Lewis last year I decided that I wanted to get involved in the environment and local sustainability efforts so I joined my school's climate Justice Club I rode buses that ran on electricity and food waste I went to the NC Museum of Life and Sciences climate Summit I learned about kfo Hog Farms Urban heat Islands waste reduction and Energy Efficiency it was things like this that helped me bridge the gap between what I did know and what I didn't know it helped me embrace my agency and recognize the interconnectedness within the world around me the message I want to leave you all with is that a lack of intervention a lack of intervention and meaningful changes leads to complacency complacency puts a hold on progress it makes us comfortable with how things.

Have been instead of what they should be and most of all it hinders action so while we appreciate good intentions what we need is action a climate action plan thank you thank you Miriam Katie mcgonnell followed by haira sad.

Been here so many times I didn't know you arranged the furniture sorry about that It's actually kind of funny because today Mark 728 days since the first time I stood at this Podium I also prepared for a minute so this should be really fun for all of us happy anniversary over the summer I promised my children that I was going to no longer do this anymore because it took us so much time I'm a single mom with a eighth and an 11th grader not 10th grader she'll be 11th next year sorry and I told him I wasn't coming back because the definition of insanity Dr Lewis is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result but because we had new Administration I put Faith in that and I do want to say that in the last 100 days people have reached out to me board several board members have sat down with us we have it in the works to meet with other board members so for.

That I can say progress but not Perfection then the oh so then the egregious roll out happened which is why I've continued to come back week after week month after month because there is nothing I wouldn't do for 2315 Snow Hill Road a woman on Facebook recently there was a post in the pond group where this Mom at a charter school has applied for Easley and for Little River she's leaving a charter school and I commented and she is leaving specifically because of transportation and I quoted your rotational schedule and I told the mom don't give up your Charter School spot until you know DPS can give you what you need and a woman said oh you must hate DPS and I reflected on that because I've come here and I'm angry but if I hated DPS I would have left a long time ago I wouldn't put in all this time and all this effort if I didn't think that we had something it's important to.

Me I know that what I have at Little River exists all over DPS and we need to preserve that that needs to continue now I'm just riffing I mean I've been riffing the whole time I hope it's all right I do appreciate the hardcore questions this board has presented with District leadership Dr Lewis I hope you take a hard look at leadership and find people who represent you go bills thank you Miss mconnell Aira sad followed by Maas Mau hello everyone my name is hajira Sayad and I'm from Hillside High School last year I went to an entrepreneurship program that helped me learn about sustainability and as I researched my products for that I realized how widespread the problem is and unsustainable practices around the world have led to serious problems Durham is also encountering some issues air quality has depleted and higher costs have been there for energy and these issues need to be addressed and we can start here if DPS puts their plan into action about installing solar panels we.

Would be able to reduce future costs for energy and an ideal next move would be to apply for support through US Department of energy which has launched a renew America's program funded by Biden's sorry I can't say the name it's a lot and this helps schools from K2 12 Implement clean energy in their schools Beyond solar power DPS can enhance sustainability by working on reducing waste and promoting Green in buildings these actions not only benefit the school itself but also students by giving them a life example to follow thank you thank you so much Maas Matthew followed by fiser.

Malon hello everyone my name is Matias Matthew and I'm a sophomore at Northern High School and I'm here to speak on equity and Energy Efficiency in a green energy transition derived from what I learned about environmental justice through the Young Scholars Program transitioning away from F fossil fuels towards renewable energy and Energy Efficiency has many benefits for students regardless of background but how these tools are implemented can ex exacerbate inequality in education and in our communities in order to achieve Equity we need to ensure that decisions on how and when we Implement climate tools are made with the consideration of low-income communities and communities of color Energy Efficiency is how we reduce energy used to provide the same useful service some of the most important benefits include using high quality insulation sealed windows and energy efficient heating ventilation and air conditioning systems also known as HVAC all of these tools are very important as heating is the largest use of energy in schools and often use natural gas directly instead of.

Electricity these tools also improve the consistency of temperatures inside schools which can improve intended and test scores it's important to ensure these benefits can be shared by everyone and aren't limited to schools and in communities with money or political influence because they can EXA exacerbate lower attendance comfort and feeling of belonging in lower income areas I know I wouldn't feel like I belong or be able to learn at my school if I was freezing or sweating inside of the building I I may not even be be willing or want to go to school in the first place many of these tools have been implementing at newer school buildings like the new Northern building this is excellent but we need to ensure that existing schools have these benefits by retrofitting older buildings with newer heating systems and energy efficient ones this will both reduce energy waste and Associated greenhouse gas emissions but also save the district money in the long run when it comes to Energy Efficiency we appreciate the.

Intention but we need action a climate action plan thank you thank you thank you Fisher Malin followed by Charlotte.

Carlin hello I'm fiser Malin I'm a sophomore at Duke University and along with Charlotte who is the next speaker you'll hear from involved in leading the Duke Climate Coalition we are a student group at Duke University that supports sustainable initiatives at Duke in Durham and Beyond and I'm here speaking in support of Durham Public Schools implementing a robust and clear climate action plan with its 2021 clean energy resolution Durham Public Schools has positioned itself to be a leader among public school systems on decarbonization and protecting student health however with without a clear climate action plan Durham Public Schools is in danger of falling behind on its renewable energy targets and defaulting on its commitment to the environment and student health as Matias hajira and other student speakers from whom you'll hear tonight have made so clear the moment to act is now reducing emissions is essential and there are unprecedented Financial Resources to do so the inflation reduction act provides provides direct cash payments for public schools to fund clean energy Investments and additional.

Funding for schools in lowincome communities for which several Durham Public Schools qualify and savings from Energy Efficiency projects are significant Prince George's public school system in Maryland created a climate action plan in 2020 that will help them achieve and construct Net Zero Energy schools these schools use 80% less energy than traditional schools and save $100,000 annually on energy costs we firmly believe that Durham Public Schools should act now and join its peers in taking advantage of these opportunities the funding and savings provide a clear Financial rationale the progress of other school systems Nationwide shows that this work is feasible most importantly implementing a concrete climate action plan will Pro protect the en environment and student health with Durham public school's engaged student body and excellent staff technical expertise Durham Public Schools is well positioned to continue being a leader in this space thus we hope Durham Public Schools will make good on its 2021 resolution and Implement a climate action plan and on behalf of the Duke Climate Coalition we are happy and.

Willing to do whatever we can to support dur public schools in this meaningful work as such we appreciate good intentions but what we need is action a climate action plan thank you for your time and for your consideration thank you Mr Malin next speaker is Charlotte Carlin followed by Catalina Sanchez toosa hi everyone my name is Charlotte cin and I lead a team of students at Duke University's Climate Coalition focused on opportunities for expanding renewable energy particularly solar energy in North Carolina I'm here tonight to emphasize how powerful it will be for dur public schools to take the Bold step towards a sustainable future by implementing a climate action plan including a renewable energy program across the district as you've just heard from the students our high schools are the perfect place to start this initiative by creating a climate action plan one that can be designed and led by incredible students like the ones here tonight we have the opportunity not only to reduce our carbon footprint but also empower the next generation of.

Leaders to address the climate crisis my team at Duke is eager to offer our full support support in developing this plan whether it's conducting research analyzing the economic aspects or navigating Logistics we are committed to helping bring this Vision to life we care deeply about the Durham community and we know that the city can become a model for clean energy in North Carolina we appreciate good intentions but what we need is action a climate action plan thank you for your time and consideration thank you Catalina Sanchez toosa followed by Christy clim hi my name is Catalina and I seed my time to Christie hello thank you wasn't sure how much time I would have I support a climate action plan I don't have the knowledge that they do but I do understand its value and importance so thank you Catalina Christy Clen physical therapist I'm here speaking for myself and for the many classified co-workers that I continue to talk to on a regular basis there's we still have.

Just as much uncertainty with our pay moving forward as we did almost a year ago I misspoke last board meeting I said I thought my pay would be frozen for four to five years that was incorrect I'm currently on step 18 when I hit step 30 I'll make $ 107 more dollars a month than I do now that's what this newest salary schedule for OTS and PTs did so 11 years from now I make about six more dollars a month then when I hit 12 more years from now I'll get a hundred more a month so let me just tell you how promising that is and how valued I feel from DPS and yes that is correct our current step 30 is less than our 2223 salary schedule step 30 said so after two years is of two years of raises we are going backwards so so that feels defeating and we talked about the definition of insanity doing the same thing I've shown up for a year doing the.

Same thing asking and the question that I ask myself more now is how much longer can I show up and ask this question and be hopeful because hope is getting much smaller that there's going to be a change in this and it's not just otpt I've got spreadsheets that I sent many of you lots last year comparing it's harder for me to compare now because it's harder for me to understand where current employees fall in they could be nc6 four through six well which one are they it's not clearly posted it could be 17 or 18 well which one is it so otpt is an example but it is much bigger it is the folks in it it is the skilled trade electricians that I talked to it is the guys in the warehouse it is transportation staff and mechanics it is safety and security this is what we all have questions and concerns about when are we going to have some kind of information as to what we can expect.

Next and not just next month and not just next fall but for the next 12. Years what what are y'all doing to make us want to stay and our our love of the kids and the love of the community and our love of one to be here can only get so far I compared to toake County which I said at a a county commissioner meeting last year if I'd been a speech therapist in Durham for my last eight years I've been here or if i' been a Wake County physical therapist I would have made a $100,000 more dollars in either of those positions when I looked at wake compared to our newest Eerie schedules as I'll call them because I don't know what else to call them OTP we start within a dollar of Wake County year 30 for otpt that equals year eight in Wake County You' have compressed our salary so much that 30 years in DPS I would top out and wake at year eight that's not even counting that wake.

Would pay me for my doctorate if I look at the doctorate scale on year seven in Wake County I would be making more than I would at year 30 here and again not just otpt classified which brings me to the the policy that's on the table later the classified Personnel reduction hadn't been a whole lot of information that comes out about that but what is my feeling and what are other classified folks feeling we're about to balance the budget and by we I mean y'all are going to use our salaries and our positions and reclassify us and move me from an mh18 you know what we can save a few dollars if we reclassify otpt down to a 17 we can make what's now on their check as Legacy pay go away to save some money and they'll stick around that's what it feels like is that's what's going to happen I don't know there's not information coming out but after the last year of our numbers going smaller and smaller and US feeling.

Not at all important that is my only assumption are you going to take a skilled trades and reclassify them somewhere else to save a few a few dollars what a 30-year PT now makes because they had to carry it over from last year I will never reach that. Pay I mean really it's insane that I do. Stay and I would love to have a one-on-one conversation or a group conversation with any body to try to have a better understanding and if I'm misspeaking and I have wrong information please educate me educate all of your employees in what the plan is and what it what we can look for and expect because it's nothing but a big question mark and a lot of disappointment and frustration on our.

End I'm sure I've left multiple things out thank you for your time a hope Mee and confer a real meeting confer that can happen so when new discussions are being made employees can be a part of that thank you we have three more speakers and then we will take a brief recess so that staff can consult on weather issues Brian Callaway followed by Isabelle.

Sharie right good evening I wanted to bring some awareness because there's a recent oped published in the Indie week it's titled if we were in this together at Durham Public Schools we need to act like it wanted to encourage everyone to go ahead and read that if you can I know a few board members already have because you've liked and loved it on Facebook it's a article that's written by an author identifying themselves as a DPS parent and a political operative neglected to mention that they were a paid staff member of the board chairs campaign most recently also donated to the vice chair's campaign despite you having no opponents in that race but it it's it highlights the ineffectiveness and impotency really of the machines that control our local politics and Durham parents have been reading it and it's been kind of spreading like wildfire in some of those groups of just the insanity that we are at that is on display almost monthly here in these meetings the chaos that that has been basically.

Continued by this board but you know I I was going to say one of the good things about probably the only good thing that's been a result of the last year of debacle after debacle is that there are more eyes on on these on what this board is doing you know we just just we did just have the TV cameras disappear but they've actually showed up from time to time when for years they never were never we're here but despite kind of all of this like your your behavior has not changed you still don't or you still sit back and blame other people especially you missp blame the state for all the problems that are within our control you still don't have any presence in the community among your constituents you know you're unfortunately in this town you're elected by the packs not the not the people the way that the political action committees endorsements run there are no Town Halls that any of you have announced or or had in your.

Districts there are no office hours that you have to engage the public if you go on your Facebook pages it's still filled with photos of ribbon cuttings with fancy balloons still filled with photos of you off on vacation trips Al together on the public dime while you're slashing your workers wages and it's filled with handshakes with the new governor and highlighting things like that so I think overall this board is demonstrating to all just how of touch you are with your workers as we just heard with the parents of Durham and perhaps most importantly with what representative democracy is meant to be so I'm excited that it's 2025 that's a one year closer to 2026 and what hopefully will be a wave election in these four races to come so thank you thank you Mr Callaway welcome Isabelle Sharie followed by aeman David H.

Everybody good evening thank you for having me my name is Isabel sh I'm here as part of the solar Futures team of DPS to bring awareness about climate change to the most impacted generation our future is in our hands my future my kids future your kids's future is in my hands as I stand here to speak today with you all I want my kids to play in the snow to Build a Snowman and put their favorite scarf on him so he doesn't get cold need a plan to address the effects of climate change because they are happening as we speak as evidence in Los Angeles right now is Durham next as I stand here in front of you my snowman is melting my future is burning in the Flames of forest fires lucky for Frosty the Snowman my team and I have come up with a draft plan on how to address climate change and during Public Schools ideally solar Futures will like DPS or transition to 80% clean renewable.

Electricity by 2035 and 100% clean renew electricity by 2050 I know this sounds as far-fetched as our kids touching snow but it is possible we've seen it other school systems in America have done this we wouldn't be the first and we shouldn't be the last thank you for allowing me to speak here today my team and I appreciate good intentions what we need is action a climate action plan thank you final speaker is amen David Hester. Good evening DPS board my name is em and David can you pull the mic a little closer yeah thank you good evening DPS board my name is em and David Hester I am a junior at Northern High School I'm joined by Miss Owens in environmental Club I think it's important to ensure that children are the future and to also ensure that our education is very important to us and a big part of who we are and as a society we expect a lot from our schools in addition to teaching basic skills we.

Hope our educational in institutions will prepare students to be the 21st century leaders part of preparing Future Leaders includes teaching students about environmental environmental topics and helping them develop tools to understand and address environmental challenges we appreciate good intentions we need what we need is an action a climate action plan thank you thank you so much I want to extend gratitude to all of our speakers this evening those that have been here a long time and bring thoughtful critique we welcome that and also especially most especially our students it is always amazing to hear from you all and hear your dreams for our community and and this Beloved Community thanks you please continue to use your voice in in all kinds of ways to share with us look forward to that I did neglect to remember our interpreters here this evening and I want to give gratitude to our interpreters Martha Romo Riles and Vanessa P Ramirez we will go into a brief recess so that staff can consult about weather and be back.

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Thank you all for your patience we are now back in our work session after that recess I will turn it over to Dr Lewis for statement yes thank you so much board member buyers for allowing us to discuss the most recent update that we received our hazardous weather team has been on the call on the phone quite sometime today and yesterday as well and so the most recent update was at 5:30 we wanted to debrief from that a most recent update so we can get some communication out to our families as as soon as possible due to hazardous weather tomorrow the likelihood of snow and the fact that while we were away or shortly before the governor also clar a state of emergency Duran Public Schools will be closed on tomorrow and so Cena Cooper is working on some communication to go to staff and families this evening so thank you for allowing us to debrief that thank you so much Dr Lewis try to get that information out to families as.

Quickly as we can I know that's going to impact a lot of folks and want to continue to Center safety and hope that everyone stays safe tomorrow we are now at the consent agenda board what is your.

Pleasure move approval I was going to ask if we could take off the the stop grant information and maybe I don't know if we need to move that to a different agenda I think I sent over a question to Dr King and I don't know if you're ready with that or okay is it possible can we move it to later this evening or would it be okay if we put it on the next meeting. Agenda I guess my motion will be to to take the item the stop Grant update and contract for services and move that to the January 23rd 2025 meeting board meeting second it's been moved by Miss umad and seconded by Millicent Rogers that we remove item a the stop Grant update and contract for services with Lincoln Center to our meeting on the 23rd any further discussion if not all in favor say I I I any opposed passes unanimously that brings us to the remaining items on the consent agenda they are restart authoriz reauthorization contract approvals for.

Vendors exceeding $90,000 change order for Clancy and theves change order for it Network and equipment at Glenn change order for updating fiber lines at Glenn temporary electrical service easement with Duke Energy the new Durham School of the Arts Miss SP I would offer a motion to.

Approve the consent agenda as amended okay it's been moved by Millicent Rogers and seconded simultaneously by Mr Tab and Miss Chávez any further discussion if not all those in favor of approving the cend agenda as amended please vote now I I any opposed passes unanimously thank you that brings us to the Board of Education items the first item is a transportation update again thank you so much want to say board chair you're chairing this meeting your buyers and board members good evening members of the public as well we're excited to bring back an update on our transportation U from the special call meeting on Monday we had some directives there and so what you'll see tonight I highlighted some of the preliminary data from the survey that we sent out as a reminder we sent surveys out to those families that were impacted by Family responsibility zones as well as those families that were are impacted by Express stops and so we'll take a deeper dive into that survey it closed today and so that.

The data is available in board docs and so there will be some slides that I will read verbatim I will VI the rules of PowerPoint in terms of reading slides but I want to honor the voices and those from those families that and staff and students that submitted responses to this survey our goal as stated before was to end rotational services and we're excited to bring options to the board that will end rotational services on January the 19th next slide please and so the question that we posed to those impacted families is we wanted to get some additional questions from them concerns from those families and so the question we pose is what are your questions regarding the implementation of Express stops and family responsibility zones to solve DPSS Transportation challenges and we wanted them to share their thoughts you see on the screen there and pretty much an executive summary that was taken at 443 today from the survey of of of what was captured in that survey and I want.

To read this to to to definitely honor the voices that were in that survey and so the responses pretty much highlighted significant concerns regarding the implementation of Express stops and family responsibility zones key issues include increased traffic congestion safety risk for children walking through unsafe areas and the disproportionate impact on low-income families and those with inflexible work schedules many parents are worried about the lack of supervision at at Express stops and the logistical challenges of coordinating multiple children at different schools and the potential for an increased student absences there's also a strong sentiment that the plan is inequitable and fails to consider the needs of working parents single parent households and families without reliable transportation and so in these next few slides you'll see a deeper dive into some of these concerns that were mentioned in the survey wanted to highlight the participants in the survey you can go to the next slide again this survey was sent to only the families that were impacted by Family responsibility zones or Express stop and.

Express stops I guess or Express stops a total of over 500 participants and once once they left their questions or their thoughts there they could rate those thoughts and so those thoughts that were rated the highest I'll share some of those thoughts here in just a moment so really pretty much it allows us to focus our energy on where we were hearing the most concerns which you'll see here in just a moment next slide please please we ask the participants to identify themselves in terms of being a parent student staff or other they did have an opportunity to list others so you can see an overwhelmingly majority 86% of the respondents were parents or Guardians 2% students 9% staff and then 3% other when it comes to the different languages that completed the the participation in languages on the next slide 85% of our respondents were english- speaking families and 15% or our Spanish-speaking family so thank you all for completing that survey next slide you're familiar with old word old word.

Cloud and so this just represents the topics the thoughts the questions that they had the most and you can see there was concern obviously for Transportation Express stops was mentioned quite a bit which we'll walk through in just a moment concerns for families as well and within this platform for example you can click on Express stops and see all the questions or the thoughts that were related to express stops next slide and please know that this the text that you see on the screen is verbatim as it relates to how our respondents respond so this is word for word in terms of those thoughts so the top thoughts who thought this Express stops was a solution without insight into how it will create larger issues for families impacted parents' jobs do not allow them to take their children to an unsupervised Express stops and pick them up every day families rely on neighborhood stops and so you see the four 4.8 they were they were able to rate those thoughts on us U from stars.

Like a star rating from one star to five stars and that one received 4.8 rating Express stops are a horrible idea and massively inconvenience my family also it's ridiculous to implement this in the middle of the year and then DPS core belief of equity except for students living close to certain schools or attending magnet schools next slide and then we looked at the themes from the the survey and you can see at the top was definitely indeed Express stops they want us to consider School diversity working parents and and so on and so again we'll take a deeper look into some of these thoughts and so particularly when it cames to next slide please when it when it came to Express stops I think I just had that slide you can go to the next slide you looked at those that had maybe some concerns about Express stops or some that were maybe supporters of of Express stops but what did they have in common what was that common ground and.

You'll see there in the middle both sides agree on the importance of finding Equitable solutions that ensure all students have access to reliable transportation there's a shared concerned about the impact of families without transportation and the need for Clear communication and planning to address these challenges and so both supporters and opponents recognize the need for a wellth thought out plan that considers the diverse need needs of the community and so again on the opponent side respondents strongly oppos opposed the implementation of Express stops and they cited their concerns and then some of the supporters respondents believe that implementing Express stops is necessary so you can take further a further look at that next slide and I'm going to try to Breeze through these next few slides but again you have those it's available in our in in board docs for members of the community and staff to to really look at and so as it relates to what were some comments that the respondents had about the impact on families you will see that.

This plan this plan places immense hardship on families with children at different schools and of different ages it is also discriminatory this policy is discriminatory it disproportionately affects families with two working parents single parents families and those who cannot afford a car and then the last comment there you are not giving fam enough time to make plans next slide so what were the concerns as relate to working parents and those are three thoughts there Express stops do not help families could drive their child to an Express Stop they could drive them to school and this this is a student I'm a student at DSA and this is a terrible idea the point of the bus system is so that parents don't have to worry about how their child is going to get is going to get to and from school parents have no time to be waiting for the bus to come to an Express Stop they have lives where they work and cannot do that and then the last.

Comment moving bus routes to express stops will create constant problems for working parents with the current system we only have to worry about one day next slide you can go to the next slide as it relates to thoughts on how this impacted children these is these these comments are translated one comment is very difficult as parents to have to go and drop off the children at school especially when you have younger children at home that you have to take with you next slide and so when we think about just the overall comments and these are again verum comments from family responsibility zones this respondent said U family responsibility zones will negatively impact vulnerable families the families that live closest to our school are some of dur and poorest many Refugee and as as Asus can't talk tonight aslum seeking families think you don't have cars or time to walk and then you see the rating there I do want to highlight again a a comment that was translated to why are they implementing family responsibility.

Because transportation is a significant benefit for my child to attend class every day and so for the sake of time I won't read all the comments but I wanted to just make sure that we were being transparent and collecting the feedback from from families and sharing th those feedback with the board and and the public but also us looking at that feedback to make the necessary decisions or adjustments next. Slide I'm sorry go go back one slide on the family responsibility Zone I did want to read that second one that said the family responsibility zones I'm sorry for family responsibility zones you pick schools with safe and walkable streets and sidewalks why not for Express stops and so those comments like that help us make informed decisions next slide and so as it relates to equity Equity concerns there were over 100 thoughts related to equity concerns and many of the respondents express concerns about the equity of the proposed Express slide I'm sorry Express stops and family responsibility zones they highlighted.

That these changes disproportionately affect families without reliable transportation the perception is that the plan will exacerbate existing inequities and so overall there was a strong sentiment that the plan does not serve our families equally and could negatively impact attendance and diversity next slide there were close to 220 thoughts on logistical challenges respondents raised numerous concerns regarding the implementation of Express stops they question the practicality of getting children to these stops the overall perception there is that the logistical aspects of the plan have not been thoroughly considered leading to potential chaos and inconvenience for families next slide close to 40 thoughts on communication and and planning the perception is that the roll out of the plan was has been poorly managed leading to confusion and frustration from parents they want more Transportation they cited that decision seemed rushed and lacked proper consultation with with parents next slide was close to well a little over 100 thoughts on safety concerns they worried about the safety of children walking to and from Express stops.

Especially in the areas without sidewalks or during early morning or late evenings there were calls for more consideration of safety measures before implementing these changes next slide and then they gave feedback as it relates to what could be some alternative Solutions next slide please over 80 thoughts in terms of alternative Solutions several respondents suggested alternative solutions to the transportation challenges some propose increasing the pay of for pay for bus drivers to attract and retain more staff others suggested combining the stops within neighborhoods to reduce the number of routes while still making them accessible there are also calls for exploring other options like rotational busing or improving neighborhood schools to reduce the need for magnet school transportation and then the perception is that there are better Solutions available that could address these issues without calling causing significant disruption for families then next slide and we just simply thank them for their feedback and noted that we would share this with the board and so I wanted to provide an overall snapshot of what we were hearing.

For them from from the community I think board member Chávez you you said it at Monday meeting in terms of the emails that you are receiving was an overwhelming number of emails as it relates to Express stops and so I definitely wanted to again share that with the board and the members of the public as we continue to move forward and so with that we went back and prepared some updates for the board this time I'll turn it over to Dr Webb to go into the updates as it relates to family responsibility zones and Express STS Dr web next slide thank you Dr Lewis good evening board member buyer Madam chair board members and all in attendance Mr Palmer is not with us this evening not able to be here so I'm pinch hitting but I have a good team with me the the transportation team is with me in attendance tonight and we'll Aid and answer any questions that that we cannot cover from here so our family responsibility zones the status of.

Where we are with that transportation and and the designated family responsibility schools have been and will continue collaborating we're still in conversation this is a ongoing fluid conversation as new crises or problems or opportunities arise our team is still working with the schools so the actual family responsibility zones continue to continue to grow and mature we've created a couple of documents so if I could we could select the walking safety.

Education able to get to it.

While we're trying to bring this up or are we able to bring it up right this is a document that provides resources to our families on the the safe practices of walking to school or otherwise making it the school one way or another and then the next document is an agreement for independent Walkers and bikers that we will have at our schools that our parents will and schools will complete together for our students that are participating not sure why we're not able to to get that my apologies we can get those to you prek Walkers must be accompanied by a responsible person both to and from school parents of kindergarten through fifth grade students will need to complete a form advising if a child is a walker or car rider most of our schools do this already I very confident that our principles and our schools know how our children get to and from schools but we will continue to refine that parents will designate on the form.

If a child it will be allowed to walk or bik from school and must name the designated chaperon the state statute and the board policy allow for no Transportation zones of 1.5 miles from the school and the way that reads in our policy it is in a radius of 1.5 miles to the school we have shrunk that radius to one mile so I want to I bring that up because the next statement is we looked at our closest student in family responsibility Zone and our longest walking student the the range is from 0.004 miles to 1.4 miles will you ask how but we said one mile the homes can exist within one a one mile radius but if for example if that home is in the back of a subdivision it may take the child some time to walk to the edge of the subdivision to use use the sidewalk of the infrastructure that's there the average of all of our addresses is 7 miles that's if we take all of the our.

Furthest distance and our shortest distance and put it together from the sign School the provision of Transportation will be assessed as traffic pattern and construction projects may occur in other words this may change there may be new family responsibility zones if there's something that changes in the neighborhood or they may cease to be u a school in the FZ if there's something for example there's a construction project in one of our areas now until that is done those children will be on a bus transportation schools will continue to communicate impacted addresses as these projects may occur to and come to the attention of the district Community Resources will be provided to share to with schools and to the schools to share with families there was some question about requesting a bus service if your your child is deemed to be in a f frz so we wanted to talk about that children are expected to use the shortest route to school following established streets sidewalks or satisfactory off-road paths accessible to regular Auto or pedestrian.

Traffic certain conditions such as people Ling General concerns about neighborhood crime traveling in the dark abandoned buildings are not considered hazards and generally will not qualify for the exceptions extreme hardships for extreme hardships we ask that they contact the schools contact their principles the principles will provide them resources and if they're unable to have resolved that hardship there's a transportation exception form that we're still developing and refining with a legal eye to making sure that that is a effective document and that'll be posted on the transportation web page the design will advise if hardship exist and they will be told if it was granted or denied if denied there's in our policy 632 6322 the parent May seek review of decision in accordance with that policy of the student and parent Grievous grievance procedure next slide please sorry I cannot see very good thank you Staffing lots of questions and very valid questions about the ongoing Staffing challenges we're very clear that the permanent solution to everyone bus concerns Transportation concerns are.

Licensed employees that are on the job employed and meet the needs of the students we are realigning those Outreach efforts and simplifying the process to assist interested drivers in obtaining their licenses we are going to visit and contacting people at the school who have licenses we've had communication directly this week with individuals at the schools and some of them have agreed to join us and help us by driving we are also reaching out to the individuals who drove for us once before but no longer do so we are having s already having success with our Outreach efforts retention recruitment training efforts continue with Transportation human resources and public affairs our Administration is exploring ways to improve working conditions for our current drivers and safety assistant and I'm we're excited about this we we spoke about this Dr Lewis and I spoke about this at our leadership meeting on Wednesday before we were done talking about a place for our our drivers to go in between their routes and the.

Opportunity to come in and have some of the Creature Comforts like a restroom we had sir wait a minute S three minutes need to hurry up sorry yes sir anyway we had a volunteer so we have a we already have a a a school where we will be using allowing our our drivers to go next slide now this is a change express stops we do not recommend implementing Express stops this school year with the resources and the acquisition of those new drivers that we talked about we believe that we do not need to implement Express stops this year however we do believe it should be implemented for the 25 26 school year the exact stops locations procedures and timeline for next year can be refined in the spring families have been notified that Express stops may be an aspect of the magnet school program next year in the magnet application and we will continue to advertise and make that known to potential students next slide rotational coverage Transportation staff is.

Confident that during Public Schools can end rotational coverage as requested and advertised on January 17th 2025 we will continue the work of fully Staffing our bus driver team retention and recruitment efforts will continue planning for this year and next year next slide retention Recruitment and training and retention you notice that's that's crossed out but it was left in retention has not been an afterthought but it's been listed later we've talked aled a lot about recruiting the best recruiting is keeping the people we have and utilizing the folks that we have and that is our that is the the tip of the Spear of what we're going to do to improve the work conditions the and and keep our keep our staff members working we are working on ongoing op chances to improve routing to consolidate routes that is an ongoing process that won't stop we're evaluating Bell schedules to see if that if we can do anything with Bell schedules to improve Transportation Staffing and efficiency and we'll be discussing the implications and implementation of.

Secondary growing together but that brings me to the end of my presentation except to ask four questions four four questions next slide we we wanted to use this as an opportunity to announce our career fair taking place on Tuesday January 31st thanks to our HR team1 21st did I not say 2st you said 31st oh did I I'm sorry yeah you're good thank you thanks team member Tuesday January 21 yeah I didn't not when you say it I know I say it 31st now Tuesday January the 21st from 5: to 6:30 p.m. yes we're going to heavily recruit bus drivers we're also going to use this as an opportunity to help us support some additional positions as well so thank you Dr Le snuck a slide in on me I apologize and good one next slide please questions comments concerns thank you so much Dr web and Dr Lewis we know we have asked a lot of you and given you a lot of questions and we also are trying.

To implement time boxing some of our discussion and so that's why we were unfortunately rushing you along but that is really critical information I'm going to turn to colleagues I I do believe this has changed so rapidly that the preces in here here hasn't kept up it says the recommendation is that you're seeking approval and implementation of family responsibility zones and express stops as presented but what you're seeking recom approval from this board is for family responsibility zones only at this time actually we're not seeking you're anything you don't need anything family responsibility zones have already been approved great and I thought we I apologize I thought we we did update that PES my apologies on that wor but once we decided we didn't need to request the the express stops there is not a need for a motion we're not requesting a motion this time no at the December 19th board mean the board board members gave us the approval to pursue family responsibility zones and explore Express stops and we have.

Explored it not at this time considering the feedback we received as well thank you thank you for that Clarity that's that's super helpful as we go forward with discussion board m members any questions discussion for staff that is here this evening Miss Travis thank you so much for this presentation thank you for let's see just the survey information that was really important and also the decision not to use express stops I guess what the re-evaluation of the roots needed and all of that I think that is a good decision based on the feedback that we have heard so I'm going to jump into where I'm thinking I I want to share my thoughts and then I have some questions too I after talking to the some of my board colleagues and then this Transportation delegation that sent this petition on December 19th I had some change in my thinking in the need to focus on retention retention number one I like now I see why you crossed it out and left it in and.

That was Dr giovan's idea okay thank you Dr Giovani so I think that's critically important I I still think it would be a good idea to have an emergency meeting a speal a special meeting around just retention and Recruitment and after hearing more about the the demands and experiences of some several of our bus drivers and just giving more thought to this I think that having that this month would be a good idea so I would like to hear how other people feel about that I'm glad that we're having a a fair as well and I really I especially when want to think about retention I appreciate the work on working conditions as we talked about I think that's super important and I hope it will continue and sift down in all ways I think that's critically important I do want to ask if there is a plan to meet with the transportation delegation in the coming days let me a couple things one I just want to remind the board that.

They've directed Administration to put Transportation on every agenda going going forward and so at the 23rd board meeting we definitely can focus on retention and and recruitment at that board meeting that also give staff time to focus on retention and recruitment between the meetings as well and yes we I met with Transportation team obviously we meet with the transportation team I have another meeting with the group of bus drivers next week so we're in constant communication with our Transportation folks there's a specific delegation that yeah their delegation that conducts a survey and all of that so I just wanted to ask specifically about them because they've organized this information and and so if are there plans to meet with this group or is that the group that you're talking about Mee now we're meeting with Dae on a separate issue but we meet with bus drivers as well okay is that the transport the Dae Transportation delegation I'm not I don't know what a delegation is but all.

I know is I'm talking to bus drivers we're talking to bus drivers whether this delegation not you know now we do meet with the AE on another issue is that what you're no that's not what I'm talking about they they have different delegations like they did a master's pay delegation where they gra get people together who are impacted by a certain issue or knowledgeable about a certain area within our district and so I think it CH can I ask a question yes have they specifically requested a meeting from Administration and all board members with Administration yes and I don't think they've requested that with all board members but are planning to reach out if they haven't yet okay Okay can that whatever the request was to that Administration to Administration can that be resent so that they can respond to that because I don't I want I don't think it was intentional that it was overlooked but can the requests be resent to Administration so that they can respond.

And schedule such a meeting I'm sure it could I think Miss Carter auton resent it today and I sent an email about it right but if he doesn't know who they are then he can't and I just want to be clear that maybe I am talking to some of the bus drivers that are part of this delegation they they haven't met with me and say I'm with the delegation they're bus drivers and want to address their concerns and so I listen and and talk to them they don't have hold a title of a delegation or anything not that I'm aware of I just talked to just talk to people okay I think it's great to talk to as many people as possible I would also just ask that there's also a response to this delegation in particular so it was sent on December 19th and you okay so I want to ask all right so we yes I mean we can focus on I'm glad we're going to continue to focus on Transportation all.

Of our meetings my concern has just been that this section of our meeting goes very long so if there is space for it within our regular January 23rd meeting then perhaps that's appropriate but if we need you know over an hour as most of our conversations have gone then I would say we should consider a special meeting I also wanted to ask about the the let's see the slide about hazards and exemptions what would qualify for an. Exception we are still looking if there's as many answers to that questions as there are potential hazards so we we've not established a list we are working on the the documentation for that and they can request for any purpose I mean we can we we Define what it is not but a hazardous situation could be also a complicated situation for the family the so we're not boxing that in we'll be looking at every request okay I'm just I'm wondering why some of these things are not allowed to these potential hazards such as concerns about.

Neighborhood crime would not be considered valid of an exception if a you know so that's an area where you know different there are different concerns in different neighborhoods or people loitering there can be concerns about that so I would just I don't want to box Us in to say I guess let me back up why were these established as not being hazards. So this is my PowerPoint basically what we did is when trying to figure out like how we could provide some guidance to families and yet still not find ourselves back with in rotational coverage right because there's so many exceptions potentially and so many expectations of transportation for non-transportation eligible addresses I went and looked at other entities right and contrary to a lot of other places and around the country that do have these family responsibility zones and I do think it is important to say you know we are kind of operating from a walk zone right even though that's not what they are right they're family.

Responsibility zones and so in looking at other exemplary policies and practices and procedures around the country that is what I located and so I know that it would not be possible or really it's very difficult to implement it family responsibility zones when on any given day as we found out today like I don't know what's happening in every neighborhood but if someone pops up and like oh there's an abandoned house I feel like that's not you know a safe situation and none of this prevents people from again collaborating and walking together but there are certain things that we did from the start and when we established these to say that you know can't be over a street going fast but there are some limits and just wanting people to understand that there's limits in order for family responsibility zones to be impactful there are certain things that we as a district and I believe I put the language in there if pull up that slide I believe that in the other where I got.

This the exemplary District said they will not be considered and I think I did soften it to say that I can't remember exactly but I feel like I just knowing me I feel like I softened it yeah you said generally will not qualify for yes and so I think that that gives space for you know if there is some you know extreme hardship or some extreme circumstance around these any of those that are listed as not generally applying that gives space for administration or the transportation design to consider those and still potentially say yes we can provide you with Transportation it also gives obviously regardless of that a lot of times like transfers right even if Administration says no it could be that they they do have that grievance procedure but we're trying to avoid that right like we don't want to inundate you know the board with you know hearings on everybody saying oh you know there was a person that didn't look Savory to me you.

Know two blocks or I passed them or my child passed them walking to school and so just want to make sure trying to set some parameters to allow this to work because otherwise if every time someone you know I think a lot of people aren't happy right or thrilled about you know the family responsibility zones and so and I get that I do this is our best worst you know solution for this unfortunate situation that we find ourselves in and so just trying like we've limited them as much as we could to make them impactful and to allow us to come out of rotational coverage and not overwork our bus drivers I mean I mean I'm like Dr Lewis I've talked to them as well and I mean and it's they've been almost in tears previously because they're working you know two three extra routes on top of the tiered routes that they're working because they I mean they look me in the eye and they're like we they're stranded you know it's 6 o'clock.

I'm exhausted I have a family and I can't leave those kids so I'm going again and so all of those things factored into this for me and I'm also considering you know the safety of students in collaboration with their parents and their family we'll try to align that with the policy 6322 that talks about when factors are present that may endanger the safety in students of students Walking In School principles will be involved in this decision as well because they know their schools and their communities and students better than we do so they will be involved in that process as well so miss yes Sor I just want to ask a followup does that also align with how we pick bus stops because I know there's questions around like parents will reach out and say oh my bus stop is assigned to this place but this is you know not safe for XYZ reason or construction is in my neighborhood so we can't be there and I know stops get moved around.

Sometimes because of that I believe anyway that's by folks so is will this align I guess is my question because it seems like that might be off I would ask the transportation staff that pick the bus stops or select the bus stops I will say I I think in the past and I've seen a couple of emails and I know that I've heard anecdotally that people would call in in Durham right and I think Joe was that you that would answer this I'm not sure I think Joe's coming up but that some of the concerns that we've had and where we're trying to backtrack from and we're as we're cleaning up routes and doing the route optimization are that people were getting without a thorough vetting of some concerns and just making some requests for some position for some bus stops but I would go ahead Mr D good evening I just want to make sure you could you ask that question again I want make sure I hear it correctly good.

Evening one good evening Mr director Harris the criteria just listed here around why we may not request service or you might be ineligible even if you know there's concerns around traveling in the dark abandoned buildings Etc I'm wondering if we would use those same criteria when we're looking at bus stops and I know that there are time that families have reached out and said my bus stop is here but you know stuff that we may not realize the construction is happening X Y and Z and a bus stop might get moved to a safer location so I'm wondering if these two criterias align yes they do we use the same criteria where we also use the same process if there needs to be an appeal or anything the nature it it use the same format and we use the same foundational things when we are making determination for for these stops.

Thank you Emily Chávez I know I saw Mr tab would and we are trying to stick to time did you have other questions for staff yeah let me I have one more to ask right now do we have a list of the how the community resources that are available at this time to assist with Transportation whether that be a number of nonprofits X number of churches I'd like to know if we have a sense of how many for the district are available at this time so we have not had an actual list that is we're working on compiling things yes to ask your question yes we're working on compiling things but as a district I'm not sure that we can initiate the the actual conversations around that because of the leg legalities with it want to make sure that I'm correct make sure I understand you're asking like what Outreach we've had with nonprofits or did I miss it not necessarily what Outreach we've had but who or who has stepped up but yesterday.

We talked about or yesterday it feels like yesterday it was Monday we talked about if a family says I need Transportation but I'm in a family responsibility Zone they're being an option of appeal like through this process that we're clarifying or community resource says here are two parents who offered a car poool here are three Community Orcs yes that's where I'm going with it understand you correct okay so flip those it would the school will have the resources that will be their first choice before the appeal the school will work with them we'll provide them with the resources that we provided to schools we're not saying specifically do this we can't be that prescriptive we can provide a list of resources and we're working on compiling that now that will be be available at the school and the school who knows their the principals are expert on those those students and that their schools and working there and and networking within that we cannot say oh you can.

Ride with this person so we we won't be able to do take it to that level of specificity but what resources we do have the safe walk to Safe routes to school those types of things we are going to be providing those to the schools but as far as connecting individuals I don't know that we can do that I will say we talked about that happening at the school level last time so but I this leaves me I'm concerned about the timeline I'm concerned about rolling this out so soon and I would still like to have a sense even though I realize it's at the school you know School level where the resources are provided but I would love to know you know at each School if you all have collected this school has like two organizations this school has three this you know that to have a sense on a district level how many resources the schools have to offer at this time I'll end there thank you Emily Chávez Mr.

CH thank you so very much thank you Dr web I have a lot to say but they told me I had only a few minutes so I'm gonna make this brief may not be popular what I'm getting ready to say I am deeply concerned that we are rolling out things in the middle of the of the year I don't think it's fair to the administration to have to come up with all these different things to have to do so quickly and we make it happen I don't think it's fair to the to the board we're at the position that we're in as well to have to try to make decisions so what I'm hearing now that is already been approved that I wasn't totally clear that we had made the approval for family responsibility I thought it it was to to bring it back for further discussion so that's my fault on that I am concerned with with not doing enough research in these particular neighborhoods where we are.

Going to say that kids can walk to school I have in my district that I am elected for I've gone through some neighborhoods and we would not allow certain children to walk in those in those particular areas and we cannot ask parents to be put in a situation and ask them to do that without us doing our own research in those particular areas there are some areas and that's why I say it's not going to be popular because now I have to talk about the city that I that I that I live in and I love Durham but we have to be realistic some areas that we're talking about we don't even want to drive down those areas so how can we allow kids to walk in areas that we won't even drive down.

Ourselves so I cannot support something that puts our Scholars at risk until we do the appropriate research on each one of these areas that we're talking about and I don't think we as a board and I can say for myself that we have given you all enough time to do the research that you need to do to be able to come back at a at a reasonable point so that parents can plan for the adjustment so that's why I said it may not be popular but sometimes certain things that needs to be said you all have not had enough time to adequately put these things in place providing the research that is needed and the eyes put on some of these these areas I know that M shave shavez board member shavez has talked about hazardous I'm with her on that I went through some of these neighborhoods with abandoned buildings that activities that are going on you would not allow your child to walk past and we have to be real with that as.

As adults I'm not going to let my child do it so why would I as a board member expect somebody else to let their child do it so that's real and I know it's not popular but it needs to be said so if we're going to do do this go through these neighborhoods and let's do right by our Scholars and not put them In Harm's Way our attention should be on Recruitment and Retention recruitment retention retention recruitment however you want to put it that's where I am and I think it needed to be said and you know Mr T will say it if it needs to be said thank you I don't know if you want to talk about the work the transportation team has done driving through those neighborhoods and I don't think it has to be either or recruitment or retention or this I think given our crisis you know and and the need to end rotational service I think this is this is where we are but I appreciate your comments thank.

You and thank you Mr tab I appreciate your your passion and we share that passion so in addition to the Google Earth view we this is this this was not this started as a map but then we were challenged and and our we had staff members actually ride those routes from from the initial proposed routes we we rode those routes and we thought no we didn't see this we didn't know this also for each of those routes we have talked with the schools and with the principles and they prop the principles have have have come to transportation and said we have this problem with this route and then I think all but one or two of those concerns when they were lifted up to Transportation they altered that walking route or they altered that family responsibility Zone do we do we have an exhaustive view of everything good bad and ugly about every road that our children would walk no sir but the the the panel the Transportation team has done due Dil.

And and and trying to and and not just looking from afar have driven those routes who have been on those streets spending days at a time just doing that as well as lots of time using the expertise and and partnering with our principles and our schools our our principles have been the most passionate about this and have raised concerns and we CET and appreciate everyone's input because it's helped to guide this process if you look at the original scope of what we were proposing early on that scope has shrunk because some of those routes truly were not what we were looking for and we wanted for our Scholars but thank you so that's that's where we've been thus far Dr Lewis did do you have anything else I I'll just say to just a response to that I was not saying that you all have not done that I didn't take it that way sir okay I know what I have done in the some of the neighborhoods where I visit and as a.

Parent I know what feeling I got to say I'm not putting my child in that situation so I would lovely I would love to ride with you all again in some of the areas where I'm talking about because maybe that will change some of your your view on those particular ones but however I don't want us to to not look for ways to find Transportation that's not what I'm saying I'm just want to be clear that I think that we have not given you all enough time to me I haven't giving you enough time to research adequately all of these particular areas that we are talking about to making sure that our Scholars are safe and that's why I was I was concerned about some of the hazards that were in there you know some abandoned buildings yeah we know what's happening at some of these abandoned buildings so it could be an abandoned building but unless you ride at certain times and see certain things you don't know what's going on in these abandoned.

Buildings and you can't put your you can't put children in those kinds of situations I mean it could be as simple as when you're researching when you researching I've been went down a couple streets where there were pit bulls running. Loose and unless we address that with City and those people who live there people who have kids are going to say oh wait a minute I'm not letting my child walk past that house because of what the homeowners are are allowing to happen in that yard I'm just being realistic as a as a as a parent would be thank you that's it thank you Mr tab I saw Miss Harold go thank you I want to appreciate what administration Transportation has done so far with their Outreach with the community the data that came back from the community feedback I love the fact that we're using technology and trying to gather as many voices around this conversation as we possibly can I also so I have a few questions I'm.

Going to go straight to it one or comments I want to I I'm I'm grateful for this courageous conversation because I feel like gradually as we're hearing from more people and from more workers getting more research that we're learning more and more about the complexity of this issue and and what needs to be done and so one concern that I have is around how we're defining safety and how we're considering safety the definition feels like it puts a lot of weight on the physical environment as far as sidewalks and traffic concerns and things like that but the the way that our communities Divine safely is a lot more vast we talked a lot we talked in on Monday about what's equal and what's equ and we know we have a lot of more work to do with Equity we have workers who still don't feel like they have that their voices and their their asks bus drivers they still feel like that their their things that they're asking for audience have not yet.

Been addressed we're still trying to hear from more people we need time to develop for we need schools need time to really consider what's happening and to organize and to to develop to support one another we need to work on compiling those lists we have community members who are starting conversations there's a lot of moving parts and so the courageous part for me is to say when we first started this conversation everything is urgent and we want to do something because we want to be impactful we want to we want to help we don't want our we want want to get our Scholars into the buildings and so we're doing the best that we can and so we offer these Solutions but now in hindsight we don't want to cause I don't want to cause I'm not going to speak any more harm than we need to we don't want to create situations that we're we're we're flipping one scenario for another and I do not understand how switching rotational coverage with.

These walk zones at this particular stage in the game is going to you know we're trading one in my in in my head one set of eggs that are rotting for another set of eggs that are rotting I just want to I want to make sure that we have enough time to put them in place now having said that I personally am in favor of Family responsibility zones and Ro Express stops but not as this response I I'm looking at it through the lens of what it can do in the long term you know fiscally and environmentally in Durham to have these kinds of options and all the work that's going on in community to to improve these options and I want to give space for all of that to to come together in a way that can be most impactful and most Equitable and you know so I feel like by by making that decision that we did back in December knowing all of this now I'm feeling like we're moving too fast and.

That we need to give the family the family responsibility zones more time to do what it needs to do but to roll it out now we risk causing other harms or trading some for others I especially don't feel comfortable moving forward forward with it after speaking to the transportation delegation that we spoke to earlier this week of bus drivers so I'm going to say the word delegation is neither here nor there we were in a room with several veteran longstanding you know Servants of our students who have relationships with the with the neighborhoods that they drive through with the families that they serve and with the kids that ride their buses they have the relationships that we don't have and they ask us to come when Community asks you to come you you show up and you you talk to them and they tell you things and they can tell them to you from a perspective that that you know that you honor because of the relationships and because of the the.

Relationship they have to the position and to what they're doing and so I would love to see I've heard and and and this is in no way a meant to be a critique on the work that's been done especially since I feel like Administration is doing their best to try on many levels to to serve at the will of the board having said that I hear a lot about what the transportation team has been doing and the research the transportation team has been doing I would love to see have to hear that the transportation team is doing these things with bus drivers with the workers like they you know the maps and and having made these drives because they have intimate relationship with the routes that they that they serve so and all of that to say I can't you know courageous conversation I I regret having said that we should move forward with this now with all of this new information that's coming and more information that we.

Would like to have and then hearing from Community say that you know at this time even with the with the survey information that just came in that doing this in the middle of the Year could potentially interrupt so many families lives you know for all kinds of different reasons and there's all these Equity issues that we frankly cannot address in in such a short period of time so I'm going to to back up from there but I wanted to go on record to say that I don't feel that we should move forward with the family responsibility zones although we have already said we already made that decision back in December this information that's why it's you know as we get better and better we have to do better with with Community engagement and with worker voice and with all these things so yeah regretfully I've my thought on that my feeling on that has flipped I do not know what that means for rotational bus service but I feel like we got one.

Band-Aid that's not quite working yet do we switch one for the other I don't know that's that's where I am thank you Joy Harrell Goff chair Rogers thank you all I think I'm going to start Administration thank you so much for working on this bringing this presentation based on the direction the board asked you all to go over the course of the last few weeks with constant communication to community about the work that we expect to happen to in response to our transportation crisis we are very appreciative colleagues I have been listening and hearing I appreciate you meeting with members of the transportation delegation and really hearing those concerns and advocating on behalf of those workers so that they can have a meeting and access to Administration and I understand your concerns about implementing family responsibility zones and express stops I think that the question is we're trying to build together build trust build a successful governance team and I guess I question how we do that when we make a decision.

Ision about the direction we expect Administration to move in we ask them to invest hours of their time to do that work they've done that work we made a commitment to community that we were moving from rotational services and into family responsibility zones and Express stops if necessary so everybody has been counting on a little bit of belief both on having to do rotational service which we also know is difficult for bus drivers and transportation team members relief on buses not showing up or showing up vastly delayed or not showing up at all Administration has brought us recommendation after recommendation and given us an opportunity to respond to that how do we build trust with the people that we're asking who are also employees of the district the people we're asking to sit at the table and come to the boardroom meeting after meeting if we're going to continue to undermine the choices that we've made and the direction we've asked them to go in how do we get the wheels back on the bus.

Here it and move forward if we don't try something so of course whatever the board decides is what is going to happen but I how do we move forward into a place where we can get more consistent transportation for the most people possible if we push back on a choice that we made in December I think we have a team that's stepped up and been ready and willing to do the things that we've asked them to do we have to give an opportunity to see if their plan can be effective because we always intended for rotational routes to be temporary we always intended to move forward with something other than rotational routes and if it doesn't work and it's not effective for the remainder of the school year then that is probably something we need to know sooner rather than later so that it's not implemented for the next school year and we won't know unless we try it so I ask that we continue to move forward and as we continue to monitor.

The situation be attentive to all the things that you've named as challenging is in this new plan Emily Chávez to your point about a special meeting I I feel very strongly that we need to give Administration opportunity to do the work opportunity to meet with the transportation delegation and that the conversation that you want to have about retention and recruitment efforts could come on the 23rd especially if there is no change to the rotational model that transportation is moving on or because it will only have been a couple of days for the family responsibility zones and so there'll be no data to report about those things it could be solely focused on retention and recruitment those would be my thoughts I thank y'all for listening thank you Millicent Rogers Vice chairart uton I appreciate the comments from all of my colleagues and and all of the work from Administration and do feel that this we are faced with a difficult decision I I have some questions and I guess some questions.

Related to some remaining concerns that I that just are sticking with me and I've raised this at the last few meetings as we've talked about family responsibility zones and it is the basically how do we make sure that our kids get to school when they need to get to school and then they get to get to school safely right so we talked Monday at length about what that process could look like for applying for them to request bus service if they're in the family responsibility Zone I appreciate that in the slides tonight that's been fleshed out a little bit further so if I look at slide 24 it says that they contact the principal and then as we talked about they'll be given resources to be determined list of resources and then if still unable to resolve the hardship there'll be a form that's being drafted right now on the website or on the web page so I guess I'm thinking about accessibility throughout this entire process and making sure that everybody has access.

Just want to make sure that we have a way for people to access that that's not maybe electronic if they're some way that we think through so that all families can access and then there's a design will advise if the hardship exception is granted or denied I think this issue is raised earlier I'm curious to know what the criteria is I understand that it's still being developed but that's of interest to me because I want to make sure that those that need to get to school get to school and that they're safe and so for that reason the the new pieces about the safety of the neighborhoods being generally not qualifying for exceptions makes me feel more worried rather than less worried because and this is related to the conversations I had with bus drivers one that drives in some parts of town said that mothers have gotten onto her bus recently showed her maps of where now it shows that her children have to walk to school and they're crying telling her that there's.

No way those children can walk to school and she says I agree there's no way I'd let those babies walk through those areas and so when I hear those things and then I see this like the neighborhood crime abandoned buildings people loitering not not generally not considered hazards and that won't qualify for exceptions that makes me feel like like I would feel much more comfortable with this if we did not have that language in there because it feels like first and foremost as my colleagues have noted we have to keep our children safe I know we can't protect them from everything but I just want to make sure that to the best of our abilities we're able to do that I similarly in the materials tonight I think link from that same slide you were trying to click you were trying to show us some of those links one of them is the walkin safety education and that looks like it's like optional materials for educators or community volunteers to do some walk-in.

Education so it's something that likely wouldn't reach all of our students I think maybe as we move forward we just think about that and how to ensure that it reaches as many students as possible and then the agreement for independent Walkers and bikers I was surprised to see that that was K5 and it was talking about walking or biking independently even with our young not prek I know that's an exception but even with our youngest children and specifically states that it won't that it's for walking without an adult I didn't so I'm as I'm thinking about walking through potentially unsafe neighborhoods and I'm thinking about a kindergartener so if a parent signs off on that that can happen is is that yes that is correct and parents so they would have a form and all of this is you know I mean I drafted it yesterday so and I'm just I it's not an excuse necessarily but it was trying to give some guidance to this board right and on how to make this work.

And to be transparent about how it would work that's what we were attempting to do and so when you're looking at the a five what we're saying to parents is we cannot provide transportation for you in these certain zones and so it seemed like certain parents have the they can say on the form that my child because you don't know where they are right it could be that they're down the street two blocks you know maybe three blocks and they're fine with them walking and so you don't want to limit it and say to that parent you know well maybe Grandma's at the house but grandma has to somehow come and get the child even though the child could just get there my expectation would be that parents would make the decision for their children on what they feel is safe for their children with regard to whether or not they are free to be independent Walkers or bikers or if that child has a designated chaperon or responsible adult or older sibling or.

Neighbor okay thank you then I think that makes sense it still makes me a little bit concerned but I guess still then I want as I keeps I feel like a broker record I just want to wait for people to request a bus when they feel like they're not safe or they just have no other way of getting their kid to school and that's I think what feels important to me or one piece I'll say too like I we're being asked to about whether we we did say we wanted to move away from rotational service I hear that we said that we I think sounded like we were really clear about that I still feel like we're missing a little bit of the information about that though and I'm wondering when we could get that like throughout the period of rotational bus service coverage I know we've put a new code on absentee data so I'm wondering like when can we see what was happening during that period as far.

As attendance so tardies and absences during the during the rotational bus service to really see how that impacted our families and our students and learning and then say we move forward with family responsibility zones we can compare that to what things look like during the rotational bus service to see okay well now how many families are getting because these are we were acknowledging these are imperfect Solutions so I Dr King do you feel concerned so first question I'm I'm actually working on a you know a document now that we're going to be able to share with folks today that will that will share you know some of that information about attendance during that period or and and I should be very clear about the use of the code I want to continue to clarify that it it is a bit of a leap for all of us to assume that in every instance the code the use of the code indicates that the bus issue was the driver I think it's a reasonable leap.

Right but I do want to be clear that it's that that there's not a one toone guaranteed relationship between that thing the other thing I want to share and be clear about is some of this data is retro data so we we had to ask folks to go back and try to you know put together these reports you know with with the with the information that they have I I guess what I would need the clarification I would need from the board is once the board shifts away from rotational transportation are you suggesting that you would want the administration to continue the use of this code and and I would remind you that you know the original purpose of the code was to provide absences in scenario where buses did not run once we make these shifts that will no longer be the case buses will be running unless you're in a family responsibility zone so so you will want us then to track whether or not what what will you want us to track.

Relative to flam so because we're being asked to compare really the benefits and the hardships caused by the rotational bus service against those both in the family responsibility Zone plan it's difficult to do that when I can't see and maybe we don't have the data systems in place and that's another issue but it's difficult to compare that when I can't tell how many kids miss school because of rotational bus service and then I can't compare it so that's one if I had that right now this would be much easier meeting tonight and then in the future we're not going to know if the decision to move forward family respon responsibility zones was a successful one and that was the right call if we don't have the data then on how many kids are missing in school because they can't get to school in those family responsibilities Z does that make more sense it it does but I'll defer to you can I ask a question I guess in districts where there are.

Family responsibility zones a student can be absent because they're sick because they have an educational excused absence because they're going on a college visit on vacation there's no way of tracking why people are absent if they're responsible for getting their student to school right and so if I mean would we be asking the community to say oh I'm not I mean a student would essentially be withdrawn from school after so many absences so if they live in the family responsibility Zone and they can't get there either by a car by public transportation by car pooling walking or biking they wouldn't ever get there so then they would be withdrawn from the school so like I so what kind of data are you expecting to get around that like people that withdraw from school because they have to be responsible for getting their kids to school so you're saying it's not worth looking at the data I'm not saying I'm not assigning value I am asking for clarification on how we would compare.

Data when we're not comparing Apples to Apples yeah I agree it's challenging and I think it's imperfect but I'm asking that we consider something like that and even if we were to set aside the data about family responsibility zones I understand that that's more complicated I I hear you both I'm wondering if there's interest I am but one board bember so I do not have power to ask you for this amount of data I'm wondering if there's interest from other board members to get information on the absences during the rotational coverage and again it does feel difficult to make a decision about whether for certain we want to move away from it without that just acknowledging that so so again I want to be clear I'm going to give you data about absences during the rotational cover aage tonight I want to be clear about that but but again I want to be clear about what that data is and and and I guess what I'm suggesting is agreeing with you.

Is that at the outset of the conversation about this data it is highly imperfect data it is highly speculative data and you know my training as a researcher tells me that it's it's going to be problematic to use that data set for for any kind of purpose that would require it to be particularly credible and particularly reliable in other words what I'm saying is a child you you when you get this data tonight it will say that say at Bethesda School 365 students were given 1el codes over a given period of time right all 3 50 of those kids could have needed that one L code because the bus didn't run right that could be the case it could also be the case that 290 of those kids only needed that code but we assigned that code because it's available to us and we were we we gave that code in good faith to families we have we we have no way of of verifying and documenting that that is the actual.

Reason why that student was absent it it's kind of like what she was saying if you there could have been any reason but again we're going to share that data that tonight or whenever Dr Lewis wants to give it to you and my copier just died on me I'm I'm working on it over here but we're going to give you that I I just want to be you know I guess I'm being kind of circumspect about what I think the limitations of that data are can I just ask a followup or well ask slash comment about the data I think given that it would be useful to know average absences by School Prior it' be hard to do this year because there have been so many bus cancellations but perhaps last year it is it would be helpful to have comparative data now I understand what you're saying if my rotational day I you know I was at school Monday through Thursday I didn't have bus service Friday I didn't show up at school I.

Could have had the flu we don't know or I could have not had Transportation all you know is I was absent so the I understand the date is imperfect it's going to be the same thing for family responsibility zones because a kid could be have the flu or they could not have transportation it could be they have somebody can take them Monday through Thursday and Friday they never have transportation another data point that would be helpful I think if it would if you could provide this would be are there kids who were absent two or three or however many days there were in you know that we went to school in F in December however many Fridays there were Mondays where there kids who were absent every rotational day in other words words their their day was Monday their bus didn't run on Monday how many kids were absent every Monday so that's another way to look at the data that would be more would be informative too but I do.

Think I agree that the data is important that data or no okay s goad Miss Harold goof and then back to you Vice chair k I feel like we're talking about quantita data which I do feel can be helpful especially when you correlate you see the you know you see the trends you see the things that happen it may not be perfect but you can always compare over time and you it it does inform how you can make decisions when you look at data in that way but I think that we're missing another key component which is qualitative data that our workers our bus drivers have who have built relationships in the communities with the neighborhoods that they drive through they know their families they know their students when they're writing when they're not and again that's not something that we can collect quickly but it is something that is valuable that they really would like to share and I would like to consider that qualitative data in addition to the.

Quantitative data that can also help us to deduce you know how how the decisions that we're making are working that's all I wanted to to add to that conversation. Agree and the last point that I wanted to make was just to voice agreement with colleagues who would like increased attention focused on Recruitment and Retention I do think it's I'd like to give staff time to continue working on a comprehensive plan I'm fine with that coming the the 23rd if we can carve out enough time for that and don't need a special meeting but I continue to be concerned with how we are handling especially retention and the working conditions of our bus drivers yes and there are so many pieces of that and it's all related to listening to bus drivers and hearing what their real work lives are like and what it is like to be in this position and to hear what they need to want to stay though a piece of quantitative data that does interest me related to this we've heard.

A lot about the number of staff that we've been able to bring on board I think there was like a pipeline kind of a table in one of the recent graphs one of the recent slides but we haven't we don't have regular reports on how many bus drivers are leaving and that feels like a really relevant piece of information for the board to hear about regularly if we have as many leaving as are as are coming that's something we need to be looking at as well so I don't know if that's something something that is a reasonable request or of interest to others has that been included in the Personnel report I think we see bus drivers in the Personnel report yeah there so we have that data it's not a number each time Dr giovan in meeting with Dr Lewis and Miss Hager today we did discuss tracking that information including State interviews to your point and not just maybe exit interviews and also reaching back out to some bus drivers.

Who may have gotten maybe frustrated with some of the things that had happened previously and finding out from them what could potentially we could do to support their Cur their colleagues that have remained as well as perhaps get them back and so miss Hagar along with some additional folks that we've brought on board are planning on doing that but it we really do recognize the working conditions to be an issue and are charged with and have been charged with addressing that and we take that very seriously because I too have had I've looked in people's eyes when they're heartbroken you know about just some of the things that have happened as they drive these students around thank you thank you so much that sounds great miss Umstead I'm I'm going to try to keep it brief because this has been a long conversation an important one I mean I think we first talked about this in November I think November 7th was the work session and I think we have.

And we were talking about it before then more antidot around we need solutions to this crisis and so this tactic I think they tactic or strategies I forget what the list had was on that list in November and so I I just want to acknowledge that there's been a of time studying this and working on this and I think I asked in that meeting if we had talked to bus drivers around this issue and I think director har shared they do have a bus driver working group there probably needs to be more in in collaboration and engagement I'm sure with that I think I talked about how do we make sure principles are on the Forefront of these conversations and not on the back end so I see we're making some progress there but I think having the conversations with principles helped carve out some of those places so I want to acknowledge that staff has been listening and doing a lot of really good.

Work and I think for us as a board I I I hear y'all's concerns I think I've expressed some of them before I said no in December but my concern on Switching gears now is that we've told families and December was already late to tell families right because they were going into a holiday break they were going to make some decisions for a couple weeks into January so anything that we would be sh shifting at this point really puts our families in a really bad position so I just want to acknowledge that that is it's been on the news my family asked me about it while I was home over a break you know like everyone has been talking about it I think the shift gears would just not do do justice to to what we want to do here as far as the form Dr gani that you had you talked about you created now was that also done in consultation with principles and school leaders I'm sorry no it was not the principal.

Were at a principal's meeting yesterday when we were tasked with drafting you know the PowerPoint and so I will say it's not the answer doesn't change from no but I did have I was in the at the principal meeting and did have some conversations with principles basically I will say that they are on they had requested this form and they just hadn't seen it if that makes any sense so the form was created at the request of the elementary principles and kind of I got the kind of the framework for it but they have not seen it so that is and I don't know if there's you know and again I think it says draft I believe me I think it has draft on it and so again just trying to put everything in front of this board and the community transparently to make sure that the decisions can be fully informed and so that form that you saw I would want some additional feedback from principles on that as well.

As I think the walking you know training we've talked about you know there's a lot of things we've talked about similar to what you just said Miss Umstead for months right and just kind of finally being in a place where we can say you know we're talking about it and we're doing it you know there's some things about you know having trainings and I think U Vice car Aon said this making sure that all of the students get this information around like how do you walk safely but we had talked about also providing like you know how they do the little chalk lines for kids and have stop signs and you know teach them like how to look around like stop vehicles and trees and how to just navigate it those are things that I believe if I don't know Miss I believe I saw Miss Brookshire Brookshire Brook Kristen I believe I saw her here earlier and I think I had she and I had talked about this probably maybe five months ago and.

So if she could come up here and maybe and maybe I'm going off maybe this isn't what you want to hear I don't know but I did I don't know either I just wanted her to share a little bit about like the safe routes to schools like it is something that is she's very learned in and I think can share with us and those are things that you can't just kind of put them on the Shelf I think that in we are moving from that you know kind of here's an opportunity if you can find it it's there for you and being really pushing that out and I think that that's what Kristen has been doing but I think where now that we are cons doing the family responsibility zones in a more active way and being a train the trainer so that principles and teachers and parents and community members understand the safe routs of schools and how to teach our children how to cross the street and how to.

Navigate it so sure good evening so the flyer that was included in the slides this evening is one that was sent to principes as part of information that we shared in December after the the vote on the 19th it summarizes pedestrian safety lessons that can be offered it's designed to be TurnKey but we're staffed to support that in our schools delivering it ourselves with in partnership with bik Durham and our safe routes to school staff at DPS so it can be as big or as small as schools want to fit into their day it could be one module two or three but if there are volunteers or if a teacher feels like they want to do it on their own PE teachers are very involved in the bike safety curriculum that has been in our schools for years now so if there are PE teachers or other people in the school community that want to do it on their own that can be a very quick hand off but we're also prepared to staff.

That so we've heard from two elementary schools of Interest in doing that soon so we can do more we can't do 21 at once but we can do it in pretty rapid succession thank you for that Miss Brookshire and all the things you shared with us I've looked at those safe routes documents and shared them with folks and we were on a call earlier today with Partners like bike Duram and you were there as well as other folks trying to figure out how we best support schools and we know some of that work's been happening for a long time already so i' appreciate that I think my questions around the form just kind of center around like I know if you ever been to an elementary school around dismissal it's a very structured strategic and coordinated process that frustrates many parents but is done to make sure every kid gets home with the right kids or right parent or Guardian safely and so how does this form also fit into some of that.

Structure that schools are already working on and then how do we like the timeline is short for principles they lost the day now tomorrow respectfully we know we had to do that for snow but I think just being clear around like well they they will need and that so this I'm gonna ask this question sorry I'm getting longwinded but it ties a little bit to liability for me too like will they need this for every single student who is in that family responsibility zone or is it kind of you're in the family responsibility Zone and you kind of figure it out how does that work so back in I believe December like early December when we met with the El Elementary School principles they my understanding from them is that this is something they already do right I know in my experience as a mom that was something I filled out a form like what my kids were going to be carpool or you know bus rider Etc but what they wanted.

Where there was some what they wanted Clarity on and what this form is is that independent piece for elementary for the elementary school students and so that's what this form does so most not most I would say all 100% of our principles have a process that they use for designating whether or not students are Walkers you know chaperon Etc and so this form would allow them to you know have that a badge or whatever their practice is to note whether or not parents have designated their student except prek as an independent Walker or biker did I did I answer your question it does and then this form is only for PKS who are walking independently without a chaperon is that and that's what I'm hearing so there's would be they already have an existing form from the principles and again this is just a you know I'm just going to own it you know maybe a 30 minute draft just trying to get you know something out there so.

We could have conversation around it but after getting some additional feedback from principles and making sure that we've covered all of the bases for it it would be the expectation that people parents would have noted whether or not their student is an independent Walker or biker or scooter or whatever you know their modality would be okay okay I think I wonder on this form since we're sending it home to families anyway if there's opportunity to include we'd be sending it home with these or or families would have to fill it out if their child was going to walk independently that is correct okay that it also includes like I mean it's not electronic so links won't work but how do we include the safe routes information in the form so that it's easily accessible for folks I trust that y'all and your wisdom and expertise with public affairs will figure out how to get a map in here or something in here to make sure that families have.

That information it's way to push it out to them versus them having to find it but I think that would just be be helpful in there and then with this form it is saying parents are kind of taking that responsibility they're saying their child can walk independently and they kind of assume responsibility for what happens after that can you say one more time please now I'm nervous about saying it again if with if a parent completes this form they are saying you can can release my child to walk independently to where to their to their home or the Grandma's wherever their location is okay I'll leave it at that I didn't answer verbally and I don't think the camera was on me yes yes thank you I appreciate that I'm gonna switch gears a little bit there I I I think all the comments have been raised around the family responsibility zones are are real and and we have to acknowledge them it's it's a it's a horrible time to implement.

A change in the middle of school year we know that and my colleagues we decided to move forward in December so I I want to be respectful to families who are trying to figure out how to navigate this to the career fair just Switching gears a little bit how are we promoting the career fair I'm excited to hear about it how are we promoting. That I'm sure public affairs busy right now I'm sure they're busy right now getting messaging out of families good evening everyone we've been working very closely with the transportation team in addition to human resources to ensure that we can share this message broadly with our community regarding the career fair that is on January 21st we already have it posted on social media we are working with media Outlets we will do also some additional advertising around this opportunity because we know that it's necessary to get this message M out to as many people as possible because we want them to Avail themselves to all the.

Opportunities within dur public schools to serve our students so that work has started and is already underway in addition to some radio ads that we are planning again our social media ads which do a great job in getting the message out to targeted audiences in addition to working with Community Partners to disseminate that information we do have a list of Community Partners in which our office works with and I'm looking at my friend Erica Wilkins in the back with the Durham public schools Foundation who has also been a tremendous partner in various efforts for the district and we will certainly be communicating with them regarding getting this message out to the Durham community thank you Miss Cooper I'm glad we're hearing I was looking for social media targeted ads so I'm glad to hear that as well as radio ads I think we could I don't know which radio stations but I hope we could do English and Spanish speaking radio stations we know that we have many of.

Our community members who listen to to Spanish speak radio and and also could speak English right but still want to do this work so how do we get this out to as many folks as possible I also think about college campuses as well and Durham Tech who are also partners that have students have flexible schedules and could pick up some of these different roles that we're looking for so I hope we can recruit there Recruitment and Retention y'all have said a lot about it so I won't go back there but the last thing I just want to follow up on is around student Behavior I think I've brought this up and how are we supporting bus drivers as they are navigating behaviors that are on the bus if we done any work on that so I can start that answer if it's okay Madam I'm said at our leadership meeting on Wednesday I was asked to speak to the entire assemblage and we focused on the retention as the new recruitment concept that our.

Superintendent has so very rightly espoused I had a chance to speak to all of our principls in one location not just as a COO but as a former principal it's a fellow fellow person principal who's been in the in the ranks with it understanding helping them understand or remember for those who may have forgotten and they had not but in case they had the vital role that all of our employees play and right now especially our bus drivers and I with we cannot teach them if they are not here and at some point we want them to go home so we need to be able to get them safely to and fro and how we support keeping our drivers with is inclusion in in what's going on at the school is it being a part of the school family checking on the driver who who has had an unfortunate incident we we spoke of that and that's and then after I spoke of that to them and and again they.

Were very very much in the affirmative in in their responses then Dr Lewis talked about the same types of things from a different perspective different ways we can support all of our employees but right now specifically our our drivers and to work to to grow them and we we talk in in transportation and operations about making a be the role of a bus driver a desirable profession professional career a pathway making it something that is a choice Mak something that is I think anybody who ever does it understands how fulfilling it really can be we talked about those things and that's when the the By the time Dr Lewis and I sat down we got the email where the principales were stepping forward and saying hey we want to help we want to offer our facility we want to so our principes have heard that message have had that conversation and they know better than anybody the the downside of not having the drivers running the route so I I assure you that conversation is.

Had has been had prior to my arrival since my arrival and ongoing we do have more to do and we are work as Dr Giovani said we are working on some things that we think we going to have a very immediate effect on that and little too early to divulge completely but that is our goal grow from within grow from without bring our bring folks into the DPS family to help us in that regard so I don't know Dr L if you wanted to expand on that just the only thing I would add is just reminding our principles and our principles do a lot to support our bus drivers reminding them that they're essentially U moving classrooms or mobile classrooms and treating those buses just as a classroom and you know if you have a disruptive student in a classroom what's the normal procedures but also as a means of retention and recruitment ensuring that those bus drivers feel a part of the staff from a professional development standpoint the beginning of the year.

Professional development where talk about Behavior expectations in the classroom similarly what are Behavior expectations on the bus and so if many schools are as part of their PBIS or positive behavior intervention and support if they are passing out Bulldog bucks or whatever how bus drivers can be a part of that as well as a means to address Behavior but it can't be solely rest on the on the principles our parents have to take an active part in reminding their children how to behave on a bus but not only that is what U Dr web alluded to violent Acts or aggression from from parents or other members of the community towards our bus drivers will not be tolerated and so we will continue to U do all we can to make sure that anyone that's attacks our bus drivers U whether it's verbally or or or physically will be held accountable I appreciate that it's helpful I think to you know I know our principal is do an excellent job and are.

Always willing to fill figure out where to fill in the gaps I would love in the conversations that you're having with bus if you hear Too from them what they're looking for when it comes to student supporting student behaviors because I wonder if there's a missing link between something happens on the bus as a I'm a bus driver who do I call what happens and and like how do I know if something happened or whatever because I imagine right now kids just getting back on the bus and they may not know and I know that makes it a little more complicated but how do we make sure bus drivers feels like their concerns are addressed around improving that communication loop with support for behaviors on the bus but if you can add that to your kind of list of things and get some feedback for that be yeah absolutely and when we you know hear that from bus drivers I do so also want to remind the board in the community.

Probably several well maybe a few months ago the director Harris reminded the board in the community of the resurrection of the tab the transportation Advisory board that meets monthly where bus drivers or any Transportation staff M can share concerns in addition as a result of that he also began to implement office hours every Friday via teams where bus drivers can come and share concerns and so we'll definitely be in communication if there's ways that we can support our bus drivers at a particular school when it deals with when it comes to behavior we want to support our drivers to retain them Dr Lewis I think Mr tab would like to be an honorary member of that committee he's got the name for tab yeah that's the name of it it's the transportation Advisory Board yeah I tried to get to to rename it Transportation advisory bus board in honor of you but Dr J sorry I just wanted to f and to your point I think that's one of the.

Reasons that we have just worked so hard to get out of the rotational coverage is what has been shared with us bus drivers miss their kids right like when they don't get to drive and they have to drive that other route one of the things they've shared is you know these are their kids that they like you know they love all of the kids but they've developed relationships with them and so I think that's one of the things I was you know we're so excited about not doing the rotational coverage more so our bus drivers can get back to their standard routes and they're seeing their families and you know picking up their kids and this is my last comment I think as we are getting ready to Ender budget season I feel like I'm always talking about the budget but here we are it's been brought to my attention by bus drivers it was echoed in our public comments today of the compression that we have in so many of our scales that we.

Have bus drivers who have been driving with us for 10 years we have bus drivers who have started the first or second year and they are really close together so I just hope that we can be taking a look at that as we go into this budget season around how can we addressing compression in in those skills yes ma'am thank you Miss Umstead I am bringing up the rear of the bus today and I've been thinking as I've listen to all of the comments and concerns that we are in a crisis and we are a team and I think this board has asked tough questions of you Dr Lewis and your team and I think the process that you are still and we talked about it on Monday you're still building the plane while you fly it like this is not ideal to do midye you would never you know recommend that to other districts you would never say that that crisis management and crisis Transportation was what you wanted to come tackle in your.

First 100 days in Durham but I appreciate you tackling it I think the process that still is being developed is better than it started and is better because of the tough questions that this board has asked and continued to push on and I'm trusting that as you all look at these individual cases with a student centered approach with a focus on Equity that we all share that if there are modifications that need to be made if there if things aren't working you will be the first to come back to this board and say whoa we're ready to to to change it fix it Whatever as we get new drivers I mean I think you all will continue to be Adept and adaptive in this time of Crisis and you know I I read the hardship kind of process that y'all are outlining as trying to give the grace that that we need to give on a caseby casee basis and if all else fails all of those.

Come to us right they all come to us to try to fix those on a you know and and yes we'd rather they be fixed ahead of that and that's still how it's designed but I'm looking at like staff that have joined your team and your new team that you're building Dr Lewis I'm looking at at Mr terer who is helping us figure out what we can afford and what we can budget like Miss umed said next year right I'm I'm looking at Miss Hagar who is now running human resources and her dreams for engaging in this Recruitment and Retention and the Deep relationships that she has with with drivers in this community and the respect that they have for her and her leadership here in Durham I'm looking at Mr Barnes who has joined the team to help pitch in and and the relationships he has how how what a blessing that is to to our team so the the dynamic nature of this ongoing work as y'all lead through.

Crisis is what is giving me more peace as we as we help you all continue to manage through this crisis director Harris could you come and tell us kind of what work y'all have done and what the drivers are expecting in in the routes that y'all have designed and maybe a little bit about the route optimization and how that's going just you're you're holding and leading such a critical piece of the district and we are so grateful for your leadership and miss fulwood and all the work that you all are doing yes ma'am so we have gone through routes We are continuing to go through routes we are looking at areas where we can do some condensing as far as stops and locations and things of that sort we we are doing everything we can to try to make this as most comfortable for everybody for all stakeholders not just for drivers for student we're looking to make sure that it's comfortable for everybody we understand that some of the things are.

Tough and they of course they are hard yes they are but to make sure that we're trying to be Equitable and give everyone Equitable access and be able to give them the opportunity to be able to be successful we have to do some things that that are outside of the box and we have to do those things to make sure that we are doing everything that we can giving due diligence these my employees work some long hours they come in before before sunlight go home when it's dark 1:00 in the morning they texting me what about this thought what about this can we do this can we make this work how can we put this together so it is something that we look to every single day to do all that we can to try to make it better because we we take self out of it it's not about self it's about the ones who are not able and need us and expect us to do certain things for them because it is.

Our responsibility and we call that in my department and I say yes my department we call that accountability thank you director Harris I think that concludes our discussion the next item we have on our agenda is the legislative agenda update thank you all for being with us miss bu did you want me to speak to the legislative agenda update or you got this if you would do some introductory comments I think that would be fantastic colleagues annually we do a legislative breakfast with our delegation and our state delegation and so we are in the planning phases of that in the past and traditionally Miss buer has led that work and it's been two board members that help her and so we are looking for volunteers to do that work with her and develop a legislative brief that we can share with our state delegates.

Yeah I would say that last year chair Rogers you and I worked on this with board member Lewis and we had a lovely breakfast with our Durham delegation and I I would welcome volunteers or I would welcome turning it over to new folks to lead it we just wanted to see if anyone wanted to join in that effort what your interest level is in in that Miss travez I would be happy to work on this with you and whoever else I think it's important and I know Durham often has unique prior priorities when it comes to what we're pushing for at the state level thank you others anyone I saw Miss Umstead I saw Miss Herold Goff y'all I can make it yeah the chair could make it a committee of the three of y'all do y want work on it together and I could pass it to you I give you notes from last year happy to do.

That I I I had prior to have been you know thinking about you know I saw this and I do have interest would be willing to do it with some onboarding and a little the committee would be able to support and help with with what that what that looks like but would be interested in working with the team Miss hon no that wasn't your hand that was just you I mean I was volunteering to offer myself to support yeah I'm happy to.

Help I'm not I'm not putting my name in the ring I just I but I I think we talked about this last year and I'm curious to know the extent to which maybe I should look over here since youall are going to be working on it but you've had experience doing this too this could be coordinated with other districts that might have similar priorities has that been how has that done in the past and like how can we do that moving forward to make it more powerful I think we usually start with the North Carolina School boards Association agenda as our starting place and bring that and even in the past have invited some of them to attend like the lobbyist for C SBA if they're available to attend I think Dr Lewis your team might have items that you'd want to share from cabinet as priorities that I think could be especially helpful and I know you have meetings with large district superintendent so that there might be.

Some possibility for in informed kind of over coordination in that way yes absolutely in addition to that the superintendent Association AA releases its legislative parities that can help inform as well and and we'll create a mechanism just to get some input from our buildings as well as it relates to what they would like to see in these legislative updates and I'll just go ahead and put my plug in here for fully funding of idea fully funding special education because I I can we can definitely share some numbers as it relates to what we're currently spending out of General to cover the gap that we're not receiving on a SP that could otherwise be used for staff salary I think that's going to be super important so yeah that's all you chair Rogers thank you missad Miss Chávez Miss Harrell Goff I I think my question my words would be thank you and I know that we are working on planning the breakfast for the delegation between February 7th and.

February 28th is it possible to get to get a a draft at the work session and who wants to lead the work so we can direct board members to send their priorities to that one person and Dr Lewis had mentioned wanting to get a draft in front of Dae as well as getting input from and and input from Dae as well as the superintendent student advisory Council so could y'all work with him on figuring out the timeline to get all those things worked out outside of this space and who is wanting to lead that work sounded like Emily Chávez was going to want I'm joking I'm joking I'm happy to help lead the work I I would ask that our Durham delegation meeting then is closer to the end of February to give us time to talk to stakeholders about this work some of the other districts have their agendas posted from last year and we could reach out to some folks to figure out what they're thinking about for.

2025 we know many of our folks got sworn in this week so congratulations and we're looking forward to meeting with the delegation. Thank you yeah I'm I'm excited to to see what you all come up with I know many years when I let it former chair Umstead used to have me try to focus it to three to five categories and so I would make it three to five pages and so I think that it's really really hard to be concise in this work because there are so many ways that we aspire for the state to step up and fed to step up on behalf of these students but thank y'all for stepping up to do this and I'll send you all my ideas and old documents and I look forward to to discussing it in the future yep so now we are on to the combined City County Board of Education meeting colleagues the city and the county have invited us to join them in their Joint City County meetings twice a.

Year with the first meeting happen on February 11th I would like us to properly agree to joining that work so that we can have conversations that are pertinent to how our jurisdictions overlap and work together and collaborate the requirement is for the chair the vice chair to be there a third board member and an alternate board member as well as the superintendent any staff that are having impact on that agenda the agenda topic for February 11th that involves all of us is no surprise but transportation so Dr Lewis you would need to identify your leadership staff that need to be in that space and a calendar invite can be sent out should the board agree to to joining the city and county in this work Miss Chávez so I wanted to clarify I know you we talked about this the other day too but we are still having a joint meeting with the BCC not on February 11 on another day correct do we know what day that is.

Well that can be a separate question maybe but so it's not February 11th because our meetings are on Tuesdays with the County Commission that's a Tuesday is it a Tuesday I must be looking at the wrong year I also have a question I also had this question about what time this meeting is this joint City County I emailed that to. You I missed that information can you share it yeah I'm looking it up. Okay so are we saying that this are me maybe we don't know that yet and I I will say I support us joining these meetings and maybe if we can look at agendas beforehand to make sure you know if we all need to be there or not but if the joint Board of C bard of County Commission meeting is February 18th the meeting on February 11th is hosted by the city sorry this meeting is from 9 9:30 to 11:30 I feel like I remember us moving that February 11th because they had this meeting okay thank.

You Mr T do you need us to just agree with a thumbs up or does it I would like a motion and I would like to invite Miss Umstead to be the third person if the board is amable to that and Miss Umstead is amable to that and then whoever wants to be the alternate Mr tab wants to be the. Alternate for The Joint City County schols meeting and so we would be agreeing to being a part of this conversation twice a year so the first meeting date is scheduled for February 11th the other ask is for August 12th Emily Chávez and then do are we going to rotate each by year who is the third person we have to be at the table to have a oh each by year who is the third person third person and alternate or how often does that change I just want to know what we're if we're making a motion like what's the term we can't commit future boards to.

Continuing to be a part of this with them so the those boards would have to decide so I would suggest that those conversations be had at the organizational meeting or just after and decide who the people are going to be so what we have chosen is for the February 11th meeting February 11th meeting August 12 okay right and August right because the organization will reorganize in July. We will be the same board at that time I'm glad this is here for 15 minutes but if y'all don't need to discuss it anymore could we have a motion and I move that we join the city county and now DPS joint meetings and that Betina Umstead serve as our third colleague W Del tab serve as alternate second it's been moved by Miss Chávez and second in by Miss Cara auton that the board joined the Joint City County Board of Education meetings with Miss Umstead as our third representative and an alternate of Mr Wendell tab any further discussion just.

A reminder that all board members are invited to attend even though you won't be able to like participate maybe in the same ways okay no further discussion we'll call the vote all in favor I any opposed it passes unanimously thank you all that brings us to the deputy superintendent update the policy 7921 classified person is that you Dr Jovan thank you for good evening Dr Lewis board members members of the community this policy 7921 classified Personnel reduction is before you on second reading it was on the agenda I believe on December 19th for first reading but it really what this policy does and I've provided you with your current policy which is a lot shorter maybe a paragraph and a half and then I think maybe from 2010 it's quite old and then I've given you the clean version of a 7921 that incorporates the recommended edits as well as a track changes version the track changes version I usually don't include a clean version but it's so diff not different so much longer and.

More expansive that's why I've given you the clean version and the track changes version but really what the purposes of this is is to kind of track periodically school systems may have need of some reorganizations and due to various reasons and what we wanted to do is to align how we do that with certified to how we do it with classified and so this policy is not designed to remove any protections from classified employees but instead is designed to give them and hold Administration and more accountable for when these decisions are made so that if it turns out that me grab my glasses if there's declining enrollment or financial shortfalls or just District reorganization decisions that are being made by leadership then it can be more kind of surgical in those decisions and not force like what the policy before would have required if for whatever reason because of a reorganization a certain program was being stopped or ended if it was a let's say a director in that position.

Under the old Rift policy you would have to look at all of the directors in the district with this new policy for the well that's probably with this new policy it allows with that reorganization for the superintendent to make the case the business case for why that program is being ended or that position may not may need to be moved or may need to be ended in a surgical manner if it's across a group of them so this long version is that it really does track in a line how we handle these reorganization decisions Etc with classified staff to how we handle them with certified staff thank you Dr Giovani board members questions this is here on second reading that's saw Millicent Rogers and then Vice chair Caron I was just going to make a motion that we approve the classified Personnel reduction policy and then we can yeah thanks then move well we won't vote it we're having discussion but the motion is just for the record for folks that couldn't hear.

That was Rogers and seconded by Mr Chávez was that you okay thank you I just had a quick question about it I appreciate the alignment between classified and certified staff and also that we've maintained the in the final paragraph this opportunity for to notify or let employees know in writing basically they can apply for other positions as they become open I guess I was curious ious to know do do these employees like is there is it ever do these employees have Severance or other benefits and if so is that by State Statute and if so should that be referenced in the.

Policy so under a proper riff the district would continue to pay health insurance for those employees and I am sometimes low to include things like that that are just automatic that we would do because if sometimes people think if you don't put something in there then they don't get it but I am happy to take a look at it and if the board adopts the policy I think probably I would talk with probably Mr Malone and Eva to see like what some of their other districts do and see what their recommendation would be I just don't want us to you know pick and choose kind of what's in the statute with regard because riff is you know reductions and force are quite expansive what you have to do so with the board's permission if the board does choose to adopt it on second approval I am and Eva you would assist me right thank you and Eva has indicated that both her and Mr Malone would you know we.

Can brainstorm around that and see what the recommendation is and if it is we could bring that back on a technical and just get that adopted if FS the board's pleasure yeah I'd just be curious to know if other any other districts do that or if it's not done or there's not value in adding that to the language to make sure that all employees are systematically notified then I don't feel that strongly about it just thought was. Curious hold on yeah I I off the top of my head I don't know I've seen it in policy off the top of my head I can't say if for sure if I've seen it in policy it is in the benefits manual and that's where we often look but it I don't see a harm in reflecting it as long as we keep track of that in case the Law changes so I think with that I am I think based on that why don't we say it will go in and then and.

We always just kind of maybe get Rod to kind of you know consistent consistent with state law we could put that in there and if it turns out that for whatever reason when we bring it back or we can bring it back and inform you that that's maybe not recommended but if the board I'm got I know you're one board member but I feel like from their body language that they're all like their body language seems to be like yes we agree with by sh UT and put it in there so employees know that if they're part of this that they get their health insurance paid which I like actually right I think that's good for them to know but I don't ever want to you know so it's going in okay if unless I see thumbs down from board members now no no I want it to go in but I just was going to ask can it still come back to us like you talked about.

Doing it as a technical or something but I would love for the language to come back to the board so we can approve it so would it be would you be amable to it this is second rating this is second reading I was going to suggest would would it be okay to approve it as is tonight since it has been outdated since 2020 and then y'all bring it in a month orve done that in the past something I mean again on consent like just do a you know revised January 9th and then add that language in for you to again and then bring it on consent revised January 23rd or whatever yes okay okay that works that works perfectly I just wanted to come back around that's I did have other questions are as far as like Grant positions are considered which often are time bound does that need to be noted here or not I'm not sure no I would for the they wouldn't be part of a reduction in force a grant.

Position I thought but I just wanted to ask the question and then I just there are significant changes made from the policy before can you share a little bit about why so many changes in the timing of this well I think part of it is that when you know we were having conversations around you know budget and you know I know we've done some you know reorganization and are looking at some potential reorganizations as well as just program programmatic changes what you want to do is you're not getting rid of people because of performance right you're it's because of decisions like maybe there's not enough money to cover them you know and maybe you thought there potentially was but you have to maybe do make some choices and so just kind of in looking at that the all of the different things and it's always hard to describe why right I mean I'm kind of speculating on kind of why because you all of these different input come to you and then as you're.

Looking through different things and you're realizing that this probably needs to be updated and then you look at it and then I reached out to Jonathan Bloomberg with sington Smith who is I don't want to insult anybody but Jonathan is probably the preeminent one of the preeminent personel lawyers in North Carolina and so you know called Jonathan and kind of talk through with him and this was his recommendation like he was actually one of the reason I think I tried to get this on the agenda previously and had pulled it off because it hadn't gone through the proper channels just because he was like your policy is so outdated you know and like your your processes are not clean like you just and so that's kind of what why there's so many significant changes is this is from his expertise and experience this is his recommendation and after having conversations with him like I had no push back on any of the changes that he had suggested thank.

You is any further discussion we do have a motion on the floor when you all are ready to to entertain it I'm just looking to see if there's other questions before we move forward with that motion if not the motion was to approve this policy as presented this evening any other any other discussion if not all those in favor say I I I any opposed thank you it passes unanimously and we look forward to that edit that technical change coming on consent when it is available thank you for that Improvement and that brings us to operations Services the budget calendar Mr terer welcome welcome to thank you Miss berer board members and Dr Lewis so I promised as we would start to navigate this budget development process that I would be intentional about educating our stakeholders along the way right we've we've heard a lot of feedback in the district that people want to learn more about how the budget comes to be and so going to maybe.

Provide a little bit of context for what goes on outside of Durham Public Schools that impacts our process so that people know what we're looking for and what what affects the decisions that we'll make throughout this process so one right is as as we've talked about quite a bit right we're very dependent upon the state of North Carolina right so most most school systems are extremely state dependent and decisions are made at the state level with the construction of the state budget that has implications for our local budget right and so there are some things that will kick off in the state's process that we have to monitor in terms of what we're doing here locally so the first thing that we see happen at the state level every year is that the office of state budget management will issue projections for how much revenue they think the state of North Carolina is going to bring in for the year ahead and and then from there that triggers our our colleagues.

At the state level and our elected officials at the state level to start thinking about what their recommended budgets may be so after those projections come out usually it's usually in January we have not seen them yet so we don't know if they're running high or low but we'll see those projections and then it will trigger the governor and and being mindful that we now have a new governor in North Carolina it will trigger the governor to start working on his or her recommended budget for the state and at this point in the cycle North Carolina runs on a 2ear cycle so they develop two years at one time and where we are this is my least favorite part of the cycle because we are beginning a two-year cycle and so sometimes we have to look into our crystal ball a little bit and really put our ear to the ground and talk to our colleagues to figure out what might folks do I really love year two because it's already there.

There we have somewhere to start working from we expect minor tweaks to happen and it's just much easier to manage so we are currently at the crystal ball phase of the state budget development process because we have no idea what the revenue is going to look like for them and we have no idea what governor Stein is going to recommend the one thing that we can forecast is about when we will hear from Governor Stein and that's probably going to be in March when you look at the year history and it it seems to not matter what political party was in the governor's mansion or who that was it just historically always seems to land somewhere in March so that has ranged anywhere from March March 5th back in 2015 to March 15th in 20123 so it's a pretty good gauge from there once the governor makes his or her recommendation then that triggers your colleagues in the general assembly to start putting out their versions and that usually.

The slow part waiting for them to work through things and we have found that to be a very slow process even when the parties same party has had a super majority in both Chambers they tend to still not get it done timely and so in in this particular session there's not a super majority the governor may be able to veto some things and slow it down even further this go around so we're maybe looking at a lengthy process this time all that said I've already had the opportunity to to meet my colleagues on the county side of the house here in Durham and have communicated with the budget director of the county that our plans in terms of just keeping our work moving forward is that whatever we see in the governor's proposal will be the numbers that we use to calculate how much it would cost for us to continue existing as we are right so the governor will make recommendations for how much should teacher pay raise.

How much should the pay raise for our classified employees we'll make suggestions for how much we contribute to the state retirement system to the State Health Plan which reminds me of a new wrinkle that we deal with this season is that we also have a new state treasurer in North Carolina who has made headlines with his his opinions differ about the State Health Plan than the previous state treasurer and so we don't really know what's going to happen with premiums they've been pretty predictable here lately but the new state treasurer has suggested that increasing premiums is the solution to the State Health Plan problem versus additional investment from the legislature right so we've got a new wrinkle that we'll have to monitor as things develop but so just wanted to provide all of that for context of things that we care about and to continue to educate folks about things that affect what we're going to do so if the governor suggests that he would like to raise pay hypothetically 5%.

Across the board in the first year of the budget then those are the numbers that we'll use to calculate our continuation cost for our locally funded employees the and I think the budget director was acceptable with that model I think they they feel amable on that side they they look forward to us working through it in as quick as a way possible if we wait on the general assembly we won't get it done in time so I think we all are we're so staff to staff we on the same page that we can agree to use the governor's figures for continuation costs so my staff will work diligently to come up with numbers for that portion of the budget we also have a second wing of the budget that I refer to as the expansion phase of the budget which is where we what what new things are we looking to do that we have not been doing and that that could include things such as increasing the teacher supplement expanding local Masters pay.

Doing something additional for bus drivers whatever ideas May flow through from our colleagues in the district whatever feedback we might get in the public hearings those are things that we'll have to lift up and cost out through the process and so what the governor has in mind could have some impact on how we cost those things out as well so just wanted to stress the importance of us having that in hand in our toolbox we will certainly still work through some scenarios of of some things that could happen so that we're ready but with that said we've outlined some events in the calendar so tonight here we are January 9th and pursuant to board policy 8100 we are presenting you with a a board calendar or a budget calendar policy says we need to have this to you by January 31st and so the next the next couple of steps in the process we're looking to continue to provide you updates with what we're working through now it as it does have some impact on.

What we need to do next year so we want to make sure we're very clear with where we're starting in the current and that's informing where we're going to move in the next year so lots more information to come about things that we've unpacked in the last couple of months and what that means for how we move forward as we work through that we've got some deadlines built in for my colleagues on cabinet for them to do some work with their teams to do some work with schools to find out what their needs are what their wishes are and then they will they'll get all of that packaged up for us and make some presentations so that we can assess what they're asking for this is a little bit different of a mix in this calendar than I've seen in the past but I think it's important for where we are in Durham in that historically we have received public commentary on the superintendent's budget the same meeting that it's revealed and and you know.

Just from my experience sometimes that can feel disingenuous because it feels like the decisions are already made and and the public hearing is just for the sake of having the public hearing and so we're we're proposing that we have a public hearing at the February 20th meeting U so that we can have an opportunity to hear what folks concerns are while we are still developing the superintendent's recommended budget and then there will be an opportunity for the traditional public hearing later once that document is made available to the public so just so just peppering in that extra layer of feedback from from the public and from our and from all of our colleagues throughout the district so that we're intentional about what their concerns are and we we incorporate that in our review we will we would like to make the superintendent's recommended budget visible to you by March 27th looking back to 2021 the governor didn't make his proposal until March 24th so I'm hoping it's not that late this time.

But we will we'll keep an eye on that we will use the April 10th work session for additional feedback we will have gotten a lot of feedback before then but that will be the the next formal meeting for us to consume additional information from you perhaps do some interactive things to work through some scenarios and then on April 24th we're asking for you to authorize that request for us to take to the Board of County Commissioners and the statutory deadline for that is May 15th but we try to shoot earlier than that we don't want to push it out that far so happy to answer any questions you may have about that process thank you Mr terer we really appreciate your leadership and appreciate the the increasing ways for the community to be involved in a proactive way and share their feedback all through this process board members colleagues questions discussion sunstead thank you Mr terer for this timeline and the calendar I appreciate hearing that you've already talked to our colleagues over at.

The county around this timeline too it's been our practice to have the budget to them earlier in mid-march so glad to hear that y'all are in communication around what that would look like for this year I think one request although it's just one person so you know open to the board to hear more I appreciate the two public hearings but would love for us to also have just a community meeting around DPS budget this here is how it's created here's a what portion is federal what portion State what portion is local I think this is in the some of this is in the budget booklet right how much is salaries versus how much is something else and I just think it gives kind of the intro what is 101 to a lot of community members who I know really interested in this as well and I feel like tees up us really nicely for developing the budget this year and and all the things we'll do as part of this process thank you Miss.

Hamstead Miss Travis yes thank you I appreciate having this calendar it's I also appreciate your focus in line with mad's comments on Community Education around our budget it's enough for any one of us to take in so a make it more transparent for people is is really important just a question I also like that you added another public hearing I think that's wonderful what will be the shape of the public hearings what.

Makes them different from public comment yeah so I think public hearings right so there it's a deliberate like typically it's a deliberate block of time normally you know happening ahead of the of the typical scheduled meeting andan I think right it's I mean it has shades of Normal public comment right but we've got that laser focus on specifically what are folks wanting to hear or wanting to see in the budget they think is important and I think we've got a responsibility to take that digest that and and incorporate that where we can as we develop what the priorities are and I I just think we can't ignore it and I think you know in our normal public comments we have heard some things just like tonight I think we heard some things that have shades of budget in there but I think it's good to have the the the speakers in here with that laser focus Direct direct ly on Square on the budget and and it helps us get more intentional.

Feedback great that says wonderful thank you so much sorry I'm coming back I just want to say in the past we've had budget hearings on the same day as meetings and sometimes we've also had them on different days of meeting sometime oftentimes they were on the same day just because of scheduling with board memb schedules it worked I just want to give us the flexibility if we need it to be on a different day because we know there's a lot of interest on our budgets I know I've got it it's listed here on the same day as a board meeting but if we needed to resched it it seems like that night could get really long if we had a hearing and the board meeting at the same time so I hope we can be flexible with that don't feel married to that history M Rogers sorry all the things my colleague said and thank you as I look at board dots is a recommended action of motion to.

Approve the 2526 budget calendar is that accurate yeah I'm seeking action just so we're so it's clear we're all good so I make the motion to approve the 2526 budget calendar second would you consider a friendly Amendment it depends on what it is I I got excited about the notion of the community meeting and maybe with with the notion that we would direct staff to find a date to to have that as part of the calendar going forward okay I would accept that I was thinking of it m Mr terer that this community loves spreadsheets but probably not as much as you like people love image images Graphics infographics anything to make difficult spreadsheets digestible and clear I think is welcome any got from the board as to when we would want that within this calendar it's why we have you here I think that prior if we're going to hear the Public's opinions on priorities it'd be helpful to hear them before we share our priorities so that they can.

Help shape what we see as priorities so I think probably the same for the second one as well because whatever the public says will our thoughts as well miss traveis I mean Miss car sorry I did not see your hand I saw your pen sorry I I like the idea of having a community meeting I think that makes sense for the timing and I wonder if as we're looking at the logistics of that and maybe even the hearings if we just think about how to to make them comfortable spaces for like welcoming spaces both in the way that we advertise and in the location and I don't know if that's possible I remember I think I remember last year's budget hearing being not very well attended is am I and I don't know in previous years if they were better attended but it felt like we had like a few comments I it.

Was yeah or the one before I so my point being we have a handful of people who can make it to Fuller building at a board meeting time and I would love for there to this to be more inclusive and for us to look at getting more perspectives than maybe those that are traditionally engaged in the board's work so if we could think about that with like our public relations and Logistics planning that would be appealing to me and maybe it's not possible for this year and it's for future but it's feels.

Relevant Miss haral go sorry I I just wanted to Echo Miss Carter Alton and just add the language of intentional Equitable Community engagement strategies for these conversations some of those have been been defined in community in you know in Durham and so we can start that process now of like really looking into that and being intentional moving. Forward Dr L did that give you enough feedback or do you need I think I heard before the before the public hearings I heard that from Bo M Chávez correct for the community meeting is that correct sorry is the community meeting the public hearing no no I was misunderstanding car G I think a a good window of time would be sometime between the two public hearings to have that Community Forum sometime between February 20th and before the next public hearing on the 27th so that there's a public hearing then there's a community for and then that might encourage other people to come back for another public hearing or.

So I think that might be a good time to figure out when to to have that so if I'm hearing this correctly Emily Chávez requested that this happened before the February 20 the community engagement happened before the February 20th public hearing but miss Harold goof you're recommending it happen between between February 20th and March 27th yeah I was think my my train of thought was that the final round of feedback is on April 10th and so right I think what I what and the request from Miss Carter uton was for it to be in a location that's typically not Fuller building so Administration would need to identify locations that would work and dates and times in between these dates that would work and then send them out to board members to see if board members are available are we you want us to go to that so we know what the community is sharing or you're expecting Administration to collect that information and share it with us just backtrack us just to be clear.

What I was just thinking about was a community presentation on how like what how does the school system develop a budget where does it come from you know what goes to Where Da d da d da and I'm I was personally thinking a little bit that it might be before your public hearing so that people there's a groundwork for coming to the public hearing for those things now there's a and that I think having a space that's amable to all the people that want to come feels important so I think I will leave it to you all to think about where the right space is and and presentation space and how to have conversations and it might might have some question and answer too in there to make sure that people can engage I think if I go back to my other point around the public hearings and thinking we might need to separate them from a board meeting I think if we wanted if it was possible and this I know this takes.

A lot of work if we did one at you know Southern and one at Jordan or one somewhere across in the community so they could be outside of the Board Room I recognize that that takes work cuz it has to move and a lot of things happen but maybe that's kind of addressing a couple of different points that I'm. Here okay so I withdraw my motion it's that's a lot different than the calendar is presented.

That mic on over there catching you Eva sorry just okay no she wasn't so I mean it it makes sense to make a fresh motion certainly because a lot of discussion has happening I didn't catch if there was a second there was a second second it okay but the details about dates and all of that I took as requests to the administration as to how they're going to carry out this calendar okay I think if we could use one of the February meetings to have an intentional presentation that shares the information you're looking for right so I don't know if we're looking to NE I don't know if we're looking to interact with the public in that way at those meetings or just so much share the information and so then they're aware and they can be more armed for coming lat to give the feedback I I don't so just okay like do an informational presentation at the beginning of the public hearing and then it people don't have to go to TU so.

I but again I don't know that you need to have a vote on every single detail of how this is going to be carried out I think the request was just to approve the overall calendar I like M chavas I think it'd be good to get community feedback on this question of when to provide information to or or opportunities for dialogue to the public if there are ways to get some Community feedback on when to have that that would be useful and location does that matter thinking in the past this was this was presented as a starting place and we could always add more meetings so is the action we need tonight just to move forward with what you've brought and if y'all have things you need to add this calendar series of deadlines but it's not like this is all that could happen okay happy to happy to Pepper in additional activities that are appropriate and then this approval will trigger activity that's going to happen in the district to do the work M.

Mr terer when in here do you anticipate and I know you're working Fally the audit and that presentation as those fall in these days my goal my goal is one of the two February meetings to have that presentation so I know that will inform so much of this work so I think I heard the motion withdrawn is there a some someone offer an alternate motion please try I move that we approve the 2526 budget timeline with these as a series of deadlines for our budget process second and moveed by Miss Harold gof and seconded by Emily Chávez that we approve the 2025 26 budget timeline any further discussion not all in favor I I any opposed passes unanimously thank you that brings us to your favorite item summary of follow-up items is I don't know that had anything note or who was taking notes there's there's Dr Pitman oh wow okay thank you Dr Pitman you know I appreciate any thought Partners I heard that the superintendent and the administration.

Will meet with the Dae Transportation delegation as one of the follow-up items that accurate I'm sorry just around the Dae Transportation delegation I thought I heard that there would be a followup with that request to meet with the delegation either the superintendent or the administration and then I captured the request that the administration would share the comprehensive Recruitment and Retention plan particularly addressing our bus drivers is that correct and then the newest one to add a community meeting to our budget development process thank you Dr fman Madam chair yes Dr Giovani and just to make sure I don't know if this needs to go on the followup items but I am to bring back policy 7921 for a re a second revision on consent okay thank you thank you and thank you all for trying as we were working to respect time of staff to keep our meetings and our discussion as concise as possible so that we are able to end on the same day that we start with that said I would welcome.

A motion to go into Clos session I move that we go into Clos session for the reason stated on the agenda second a move by Emily Chávez and seconded by Miss Umstead and Mr tab that we go into Clos session for the reason stated on the agenda any further discussion if not all in favor I any opposed passes you nous we are in closed.

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Welcome back we are back and Dr Lewis you had a recommendation yes thank you board Chair by board board member by byard we're asking the board to approve the Personnel report move approval of the Personnel report dated January 9th 2025 second been moved by Millicent Rogers and seconded by board member ch that we approve the Personnel report any further discussion colleagues I do have a little bit of discussion sorry I would like us to prepare for two weeks from now when.

We come out of closed session to be an open session but not live stream the portion where we approve the Personnel report much like they do in Wake County so that our staff and it don't have to remain here late into the evening and stream since we are only approving the Personnel report is there consensus around. That we can try it out if it doesn't work we can always go back but like to give them some relief earlier in the evening would that also include our interpreters our interpreters yep we appreciate them staying for so long but yeah the only action we're taken after is Personnel thank you so much for that if no further discussion all in favor I any opposed passes unanimously and with that.

We are adjourned enjoy your snow day.